PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man who allegedly befriended a
15-year-old Hopkins, Michigan, girl on social media and allegedly helped her
devise and execute a plan to run away from home and avoid being located or
contacted by her parents has been charged in federal court in Providence with
interstate travel to engage in sexual activity with a minor and receipt of
child pornography.
Charles Morancey, 43, was arrested by Warwick Police on
August 6, 2019, four days after he allegedly traveled to the girl’s home in Michigan,
picked her up, and drove her to his residence in Rhode Island. It is alleged
that Morancey engaged in illicit sexual activity with the 15 year-old on the
way to Rhode Island and at his residence.
Morancey has been detained on Rhode Island State charges
since his arrest.
It is alleged in court documents that Morancey and the 15
year-old began communicating via social media in mid-July. When the girl
expressed that she was experiencing difficulties at home, it is alleged that
Morancey helped her devise a plan to run away from home, prevent her parents
from accessing her social media accounts, and avoid being contacted or located
by them.
It is alleged the two exchanged sexually explicit comments
through social media, and that the 15 year-old sent Morancey sexually explicit
photographs.
According to court documents, on August 6, Allegan County
Sherriff’s Department obtained an emergency search warrant for the then missing
teen’s Instagram account, and determined that the girl had logged on to her account
from an IP address in Rhode Island belonging to Morancey. The Allegan County
Sherriff’s Department notified Warwick Police who went to Morancey’ s residence
where they located the 15 year-old. The girl was escorted to Warwick Police
headquarters. Later that afternoon, Morancey was located driving his vehicle,
pulled over, and arrested.
Charges filed in U.S. District Court on Monday are announced
by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Warwick Police Chief Colonel Rick
Rathbun, and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R.
Bonavolonta, and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman acknowledges and
thanks the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General for their assistance
to this Office prior to the filing of charges in U.S. District Court.
The matter was investigated by the Warwick Police
Department, with the assistance of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force and
the Allegan County Sherriff’s Office.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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