Cody J. Hansen Criminal Complaint and Initial Appearance – Attempting to Enticement a Minor and Attempting to Engage in Illicit Sex
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Massachusetts man has been ordered detained on a federal criminal complaint charging him with attempting to entice a minor, attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor, and traveling to Rhode Island with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
Cody J. Hansen, 34, of Orange, MA, was arrested on Tuesday by members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force when he arrived at a designated location where he believed he would meet with a person who would assist him in meeting with and have sexual contact with a 12-year-old and an 8-year-old girl.
Hansen was ordered detained pending further proceedings by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan. A continuation of a detention hearing has been scheduled for May 30, 2018.
Hansen’s arrest and detention are announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh.
According to court documents, it is alleged that on April 20, 2018, a Rhode Island State Police trooper assigned to the ICAC Task Force discovered an online classified advertisement of an individual seeking to engage in illicit sexual activity. The trooper responded in an undercover capacity, first posing as the boyfriend of a woman with two minor children, age 8 and 12, then as the 12-year-old girl. It is alleged that the conversation turned sexually explicit, and, during one of many email exchanges, Hansen allegedly sent a sexually explicit picture to the person he thought to be the 12-year-old girl.
According to court documents, it is alleged that on Monday, Hansen and the Rhode Island State trooper, again posing as the boyfriend of the mother of the two children, spoke by telephone to confirm arraignments for Hansen to travel to Rhode Island to meet with and engage in illicit sexual contact with the two minor girls. The two men exchanged text messages on Tuesday to again confirm the details of the meeting. When Hansen arrived at the designated location on Tuesday, he allegedly entered the state police trooper’s undercover vehicle and discussed with the trooper his intent to have sexual contact with the 12 and 8-year-old girls. On the trooper’s signal, members of the ICAC Task Force surrounded the vehicle and took Hansen into custody.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Hebert.
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