Fall River Police Arrest Five Men on Child Sex Charges

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — Fall River Police arrested five men recently on charges they allegedly attempted to engage in sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl for a fee.

According to a police Facebook post, the arrests were the result of a collaboration between the Fall River Police Community Action and Suppression Team, the Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victims Unit and the Massachusetts State Police Troop D Community Action Team.

Police said an undercover state trooper posted “a fictitious online advertisement on a website known for facilitating commercialized sex,” in which the trooper posed as a 15-year-old girl.

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“After establishing probable cause, the suspect was directed to a predetermined location, where they were apprehended and subsequently charged,” police said.

Arrested were Russell Phillips, 64, of Fall River; Troy Medeiros, 25, of Fall River; Orion Wellinghurst, 28, of Rochester; Mark Brownell, 43, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island; and Carlos Arturo Fernandez Serna, 20, of Central Falls, RI.

All five are charged with sexual conduct for a fee with a child, enticement of a child under the age of 16 and attempted rape of a child. Wellinghurst and Serna were also both charged with resisting arrest.

“We are unwavering in our dedication to safeguarding the youth of our community,” police wrote in the post. “Protecting the most vulnerable members of our society is not just a duty – it is a moral imperative, and we will continue to prioritize their safety and well-being in all our actions.”

Last month, Swansea Police arrested three men on similar charges after undercover officers posed online as someone under the age of 16.

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Gallery Credit: Kate Robinson