News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
August 30, 2007
Southborough man, former selectman, admits to sexually soliciting a minor
William Christensen, 61, of Southborough, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today to soliciting sex with a minor over the Internet and attempting to arrange a meeting for sex with a minor. The purported minor in question was an undercover Rhode Island State Police detective posing over the Internet as a 15-year old girl.
United States Attorney Robert Clark Corrente announced the guilty plea, which Christensen entered before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi in U.S. District Court, Providence.
At the plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly said the government could prove that, in May 2006, a Rhode Island parent detected inappropriate sexual overtures in an Internet chat room. After exchanging messages with the person posting the messages and confirming her suspicions, she contacted the Rhode Island State Police. A detective continued the chat room conversation with the poster, who identified himself as a 59-year old man and, believing he was speaking to a 15-year old girl, arranged a meeting in East Providence for a sexual encounter. State Police detectives arrested
Christensen when he arrived at the East Providence location on May 17, 2006.
Christensen pleaded guilty to two charges: traveling interstate to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, and using a facility of interstate commerce – the Internet – to entice a minor to engage in sex. Each offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. There is a five year mandatory minimum for using interstate commerce to entice a minor.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 30. Christensen, who was at one time a Southborough selectman, is out on bond but confined to his home.
The Rhode Island State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation of Christensen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donnelly prosecuted it in partnership with Assistant Rhode Island Attorney General Ronald Gendron as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative focusing on Internet-based crimes against children. One component of Project Safe Childhood is joint review of sexual exploitation cases by the U.S. Attorney and the Rhode Island Attorney General to determine whether to prosecute a case in federal or state court.
In addition to the FBI and the State Police, more than a dozen federal, state, and municipal law enforcement agencies comprise the Project Safe Childhood partnership in Rhode Island through the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force.
Contact: 401-709-5032 Thomas.connell@usdoj.gov