Rhode Island correctional officer allegedly produced child porn

A high-ranking official at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections is accused of producing child pornography, officials announced last week.

Seth Crosby, 46, is charged with two charges of producing child pornography and one of video voyeurism, according to court records.

He is the deputy chief of the office of investigations and intelligence with RIDOC, a former Air Force captain, and retired Johnston, R.I. police officer, according to his LinkedIn.

“It’s a terrible misunderstanding,” Crosby told WJAR after his arraignment last week. The news station reported that he attempted to record two juveniles having sex in the basement of his Cranston, R.I. home. 

“According to both juveniles, while engaged in the sexual activities, they noticed a hand holding a phone with a lens pointed in their direction” last month, the prosecutor said in court on Wednesday, WJAR shared. 

Investigators said Crosby’s phone did create media files at the time of the incident, the news station reported. 

The Providence Journal reported that Crosby’s wife and the female juvenile, who is a family relative, then filed a complaint with the Rhode Island State Police.

The pair also reported a 2021 incident where Crosby allegedly hid a camera to record the girl taking a shower. Crosby claimed it was there to monitor something unrelated, the Journal reported.

Crosby’s lawyer did not return a request for comment Sunday evening but told The Boston Globe that the charges are “completely uncharacteristic.”

RIDOC said Crosby, who is a deputy chief inspector, was placed on paid administrative leave. The department declined to comment on personnel matters.