Local Pastor Charged with Possession of Child Porn

Sun Chronicle
September 4, 2012

http://www.keepmecurrent.com/sun_chronicle/news/local-pastor-charged-with-possession-of-child-porn/article_fbdd29fa-f6aa-11e1-a69d-0019bb2963f4.html

A pastor from Alfred who works with the poor and homeless in downtown Biddeford is barred from having contact with anyone under the age of 18 and from using the Internet after being arrested this past weekend and being charged with possessing images of child porn, according to Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

James Napier, 60, who is associated with the New Beginnings Christian Mission in Biddeford, was arrested at his home in Alfred after the State Police Computer Crimes Unit received a tip on Aug. 31 about the more than 100 sexually explicit images later found on his home computer, McCausland said.

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Napier was taken to the York County Jail in Alfred following his arrest on Sept. 1, but has since been freed on bail. His first court appearance is set for Oct. 23 at the Springvale District Court.

McCausland said all of the children depicted in the pornography on Napier’s computer appear to be under the age of 12. However, there is no indication that any of the images are of children from Maine. Since all of the depicted are under age, McCausland said Napier is facing felony charges related to his possession the pornographic images.

According to a published pamphlet about the New Beginnings Christian Mission, it’s an inner-city ministry that focuses on the poor and homeless in the downtown Biddeford area.

“We work with people who have physical, mental and emotional problems,” the pamphlet reads. “Our goal is to bring the poor and homeless to a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

The mission offers a weekly Sunday night service, featuring contemporary praise music and sermons based on the bible and a Wednesday night Bible study and prayer meeting, along with basic computer and literacy classes and an emergency food cabinet, according to the pamphlet.