RI Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Child Pornography Charges

HOPKINTON, RI — A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to child pornography charges.

Christopher Leherissier, 34, of Hopkinton, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography, said Zachary Cunha, the U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island.

Leherissier admitted to a federal judge that, in February 2021, he uploaded pornographic videos of prepubescent children using an online messenger account he managed. Prosecutors said Leherissier also stored child pornography on a mobile device.

In April 2021, Rhode Island State Police reviewed a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a Kik platform user possessed and transferred child pornography. An investigation determined that an IP address, email address, and a Kik screen name used by Leherissier had been used to upload the images.

State Police searched Leherissier's mobile device and online accounts and discovered the videos of child pornography there.

Leherissier is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 16, 2023. Distribution of child pornography is punishable by five to 20 years in prison, followed by a term of up to a lifetime of supervised release. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years of incarceration, followed a term of up to a lifetime of supervised release.