EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- An East Providence man has been charged with exploiting a child for immoral purposes after his wife discovered a video on his cellphone of him with a 5-year-old girl.
East Providence Police Inspector Craig Sroka said the video showed the child blindfolded with a shirt in the couple's bedroom, unable to see Andrew N. Almeida, who had exposed himself near her.
Almeida discovered his wife holding his phone, grabbed it and deleted the video, Sroka said.
The woman and her family notified police, who then questioned the girl and her brother, 7. According to Sroka and police reports in court, the children said Almeida would blindfold and take each into the bedroom individually.
Almeida, 27, of 62 Mary Ave., was charged with exploiting a child for immoral purposes, and Sroka said more charges may follow. Although the video was deleted, police are seeking a forensic examination of the cellphone, Sroka said in District Court on Friday. Police also seized Almeida's clothing as evidence.
At his arraignment, the judge ordered Almeida held on $10,000 surety bail, with no contact with the family, and he was placed on suicide watch at the Adult Correctional Institutions.