Portsmouth man charged with soliciting a minor, possessing child pornography

PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth Police have arrested a Coventry man on multiple charges, including soliciting a minor for sexual activity and possession of child pornography.

On Sept. 16, detectives from the Portsmouth Police Department apprehended 32-year-old Jacob Garzarelli of 3217 Flat River Road, Coventry, during an operation that targeted individuals seeking to engage in illicit activities with minors.

According to police, Garzarelli traveled from Fall River, Massachusetts, to Portsmouth with the intention to meet a 14-year-old girl for sexual purposes.

He was located and arrested in a business along East Main Road.

During the arrest, authorities found a USB drive, a tablet, and numerous items in Garzarelli’s vehicle that were considered to be of evidentiary importance.

A subsequent search of the tablet uncovered at least one pornographic image of a minor.

Garzarelli faced arraignment at the 2nd Division District Court on charges of indecent solicitation of a minor, electronically disseminating indecent material to minors, and possession of child pornography.

Following his arraignment, Garzarelli was released on $5,000 surety bail.

The court imposed specific bail conditions, including no unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 years of age and restricted internet usage.