Teaching Assistant Accused Of Soliciting Sex From Minor

BRISTOL, RI — A Mount Hop High School teacher's assistant was arrested Wednesday, accused of soliciting a minor for sex and sending indecent material. Alexander Carlson, 26, is also a counselor at Camp Ramsbottom.

"At this time there is no evidence of any involvement with students/campers at Mount Hope High School or Camp Ramsbottom however we continue to investigate and ask that anyone with information regarding Mr. Carlson contact the Rhode Island State Police/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at 401-921-1170," said Detective Commander Major Timothy Sanzi.

Members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children task force searched Carlson's Lincoln home, seizing digital media and taking him into custody.

Carlson is accused of sending messages to a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. The messages were sexually explicit and included lewd media, police said.

Since last December, Carlson has worked as a special education teaching assistant at Mount Hope High School in Bristol. He also works as a summer camp counselor at the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket's Camp Ramsbottom in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, since 2012.

Carlson was arraigned in 3rd Division District Court Wednesday morning on charges of indecent solicitation of a child and electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor, and released on $5,000 surety bail with the requirement to have limited access to the internet and no contact with minors.

If found guilty, Carlson faces up to five years in prison for solicitation and up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for electronic dissemination.