RI Prison Guard Accused Of Sending Explicit Message To Teen

CRANSTON, RI — A Rhode Island corrections officer is accused of sending sexually inappropriate messages to a person he believed to be a teenage boy, state police said. Thomas Nolan, 56, faces two counts of electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.

According to police, Nolan sent messages to a person he believed to be a 14-year-old-boy, but was actually a member of the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The conversation became sexually explicit, state police said, and Nolan reportedly sent "indecent material."

Nolan, who has worked for the state's Department of Corrections since 1990, was arrested in Cranston earlier this week. Following his arraignment, he was released on $50,000 personal recognizance and ordered not to have unsupervised contact with minors and to have limited internet use.

"At this time there is no evidence of any involvement with other minors, however we continue to investigate and ask that anyone with information regarding Mr. Nolan contact the Rhode Island State Police/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at (401) 921-1170," said Assistant Detective Commander Captain Robert Creamer.

If found guilty, Nolan could face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000.