Most of us, at some point in our lives, have had our intentions misconstrued. Usually, it’s something minor—like a parent thinking you were sneaking out when you were really just out of bed to get a midnight snack.
But for Steven Peterson, the stakes were much higher. When he was charged with indecent solicitation of a minor in March 2022, the career and legacy he’d spent years building started to crash down around him.
Peterson knew in his heart that he was innocent—but he still needed skilled, aggressive legal representation to protect his freedom and his future. With his 25+ years of experience and dedication, RI criminal defense lawyer John E. MacDonald knew exactly how to help.
“Be Great for Nate” Leader Found Not Guilty
In January 2022, Steven Peterson had an exchange via text message with a Portsmouth High School student he was mentoring in a student group. Peterson had heard rumors that nude photos of this student were circulating, and as a clinical social worker, felt it was his duty to intervene.
The student group was part of Be Great for Nate, a non-profit organization dedicated to suicide prevention. Started in 2019 by Rick Bruno following his son Nathan’s suicide, Portsmouth High School furthered the organization’s work by launching the Every Student Initiative. Peterson served as program director for the student group.
On the day of the alleged offense, Peterson’s texts with a member of the group focused on whether the student truly had sent nude photos of themselves to another student at the school.
The student’s mother read the exchange, contacted the police, and Peterson was charged shortly thereafter—without ever being interviewed by the police about the allegations.
Peterson chose RI criminal defense lawyer John E. MacDonald for his legal representation. Thanks to his dedication, attention to detail, and years of expertise, a jury found Peterson Not Guilty of indecent solicitation of a child.
Major Ripples Across a Tight-Knit Community
Sadly, Peterson’s rushed arrest caused major ripples across the Portsmouth community. You see, the Every Student Initiative at Portsmouth High School was run by friends of Nathan who believed in supporting each other’s mental well-being.
But when Peterson was charged, everything changed. He was terminated from his role as program director just days after his arrest. The Every Student Initiative shut down shortly thereafter.
Then, approximately one month after the arrest, Be Great for Nate dissolved entirely. All of the important work done by the organization—such as drafting legislation and working with teens to create emotional support systems—came to an end as well.
All of these unnecessary consequences could’ve been avoided if there hadn’t been such a rush to level criminal charges against Peterson. We can only wonder how things might be different if Peterson had been given an opportunity to explain things before his arrest.
RI Criminal Defense Lawyer John E. MacDonald’s Approach
With 25+ years of experience defending clients, John E. MacDonald could immediately see that this case was unusual. Because Peterson was such a pillar of the community, the idea that he’d committed this offense was immediately sensational.
This was far from the first time in recent history that a high-profile person was erroneously assumed guilty. John E. MacDonald knew that this highly strategic, multi-pronged approach would be necessary to secure Peterson’s freedom:
Leveraging Expertise and Knowledge
With his deep understanding of Rhode Island law and legal processes, John E. MacDonald knew exactly how to demonstrate that Peterson bore no ill intent and had not committed a crime.
The Value of Dedication and Hard Work
Being a dedicated criminal defense attorney means more than standing by your side in court. John E. MacDonald spent hours investigating the circumstances of Peterson’s arrest. Peterson’s mentorship with the students, and the context of the text message conversation.
A Focus on Compassion and Support
Peterson’s arrest and termination from Be Great for Nate were major news here in Portsmouth. Multiple news agencies posted articles and updates about the dissolution of the non-profit.
Though Peterson knew he was innocent the entire time, he felt it best to voluntarily surrender his social worker’s license. Dealing with seeing your name in the headlines daily while trying to live your daily life takes a toll on you.
That’s why John E. MacDonald is so committed to clear, frequent communication with every single one of his clients. When you know your lawyer is always looking out for your best interest, the emotional burden becomes that much lighter.
Winning Strategies and Tactics in This Case
Ultimately, a jury found Peterson to be Not Guilty. Securing this outcome required several specific strategies and tactics.
First was the evidence. The charges hinged on the fact that Peterson told the student “Send it to [friend’s name]” in regards to a nude photo of the student. Without any additional context, this certainly appears to be indecent solicitation of a minor.
However, examining the rest of the text messages revealed the true nature of the exchange. Peterson was concerned that if nude photos of the student circulated throughout the school, it would be a detriment to the student’s emotional well-being.
Preventing situations like this was one of the core goals of the Every Student Initiative. John E. MacDonald was able to clearly demonstrate that Peterson’s actions fell in line with his role as a mentor.
The next big focus was how Peterson was charged. Typically, when police receive a tip about a potential crime, they take specific steps to verify that claim. This includes speaking with the alleged perpetrator.
That never happened with Peterson’s case. Authorities spoke to the student’s mother and the student, read the text messages, and immediately charged Peterson instead.
In the end, putting these two factors under the metaphorical microscope allowed jurors to see the truth of the situation and acquit him of the charges.
Working with the Right Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Make All the Difference
Fear and hopelessness are, sadly, two very common emotions when it comes to criminal charges. Even when you know you’re innocent, it can be hard to stay optimistic about the outcome of your case.
But this landmark victory makes one thing clear: no matter the details of your criminal charges, you have more rights and more options than you likely realize. Choosing the right attorney can truly make all the difference in your case.
If you or a loved one is ever in need of an experienced, aggressive RI criminal defense lawyer, contact the Law Office of John E. MacDonald immediately at (401) 421-1440.
