BIDDEFORD, Maine — A York County pastor who works with homeless children is facing child pornography charges, according to police.
James Napier, 60, was picked up by police at his Alfred home by members of the State Police Computer Crimes Unit, according to a news release from Public Safety Spokesman Stephen McCausland.
Napier, the pastor associated with the New Beginnings Christian Mission in Biddeford, was charged with possession of sexually explicit material after a search of his computer turned up more than 100 child porn images, McCausland said in the statement.
The New Beginnings Christian Mission ministers to poor and homeless people in downtown Biddeford.
“We’re praying for him and his wife,” said Armand Tardif, a spokesman for the mission. “We know that it’s not good and we’re just praying for the results.”
Tardif said that Napier has been associated with the mission for five years.
McCausland later added that the tip “could’ve come from a variety of different sources,” but no information was available as to what tipped off law enforcement to Napier.
Justin Kittredge of the state’s Computer Crimes Unit said there is no indication that the children on Napier’s computer were involved in the mission or from Maine.
Napier was booked into the York County Jail and later released on bail. He is prohibited from contacting any children under age 18 and is banned from using the Internet, according to the release.
Authorities received a tip on Napier on Friday, prompting detectives to go to his home and search his computer. Napier is facing a felony charge as the children in the porn images appear to be under the age of 12.
Napier is due in court Oct. 23.
Looks like a second offering will in order next Sunday.
I am not suprised that he is someone who worked with children. This seems to be a common thing, for predators to be involved with children that may be potential victims. If there is child porn on his computer, then he is likely to be a pedophile. No one else is interested in that garbage but these types of trolls.
Thank you State Police; for all your hard work… we appreciate what you are doing.
With all of the bad press the police have gotten in how the Carlson matter was handled, one has to wonder how long this has been going on with this man. I wont congratulate the police on this or any other child molester until they start getting locked up for substantial sentences and until they start getting them when it starts, not 10 years down the road. I also will not use this case, as i believe the authorities would like to use it, to make us forget about the horrendous way Carlson was handled or the people whom covered that case up.
Not again. I have been a life long opponent of capital punishment, but maybe we should make an exception in the case of fecal stains like this. We should probably make them public executions as well.
At least the police got to him before his church had a chance to transfer him to a fresh community.
Check his credentials.
So many hide under the ‘umbrella protection’ of a church, because they know they will never be hired on the outside. Time to get pro-active and check every single member working under that umbrella.
The sad part about that is, the churches protect these pedophiles – they just re-route them into another church. They would rather do that then take some responsiblity and protect these children over their image.
Nice blanket indictment.
Yes and Lets check the home computers of every school teacher in the State also…. While we are at it, every business owners computers. Hell lets just route the whole information highway through the police computer system, so they know everyones business.
Actually, background checks are supposed to be done before people are hired for positions that bring them into contact with children.
Mimizkool, not in the case of clergymen; separation of church and state. It’s the responsibility of the hiring congregation to do background checks. Once someone is hired, it is assumed by the general public that a ‘person of god’ is not going to abuse the people in his/her community. Homeless children need as much positive adult guidance as possible to have any chance of becoming viable adults; sadly, this makes them one of the most vulnerable. A suggestion: if there is an organization in your community that works with children, take it upon yourself to find out who the adults are who are working closely with these kids and do a background check yourself. Perhaps is each of us would do a check on one adult working with these kids instead of waiting for ‘the other guy’ to do it, we’d curb a good number of these abusers before they get the chance to abuse. Yes, we could try t pass another law to ‘make us safer’, or we could take the responsibility of keeping our own communities safe by not just trusting that a diploma means safety. And now I’ll wait for someone to blow this out of proportion and accuse me of promoting vigilante tactics.
If you do a “do it yourself” background check, you will only find out limited information. If you Google someone’s name, you may get information about arrests because that is a matter of public record. True, you can access the Sex Offender Registry and the Probation and Parole site maintained by the state of Maine. I would think that these things would have been done at least.
I do not think we need to pass new laws to protect children. But what about enforcing the laws we have?
Most of these people arrested is their first time arrested, so background checks don’t do anything but say that this person is OK… Most high profile cases are not repeat offenders.
I don’t believe that is necessarily true. I think sometimes the high profile cases represent the first time they have been caught. And I think they learn to be even more cagey once that happens, or they move on to other locations where they are unknown. I do believe they are not repeat offenders when they serve really long prison sentences and leave in a pine box.
If you care about the children in your community, you won ‘t depend upon modern electronic technology to do the footwork for you. In the case of clergy, there is usually a reason they left their last congregation. Talk to the former parishioners…..it only makes sense. Technology has, unfortunately, limited our view of common sense.
Carlson in Bangor would be a case in point that nobody in the community did any verification of his credentials. Only after his death was it discovered that he hadn’t attended the colleges that he claimed. He in fact wasn’t an ordained minister. He was in fact a predator pedophile.
I’m talking teachers private computers.
Time to get pro-active and check every single member working under that umbrella.
That would certainly be a clear case of religious persecution and entirely uncalled for. Perhaps every liberal should be investigated for rape and other immoral behavior because of lots of liberals have been found guilty of just that.
And only liberals commit crimes? Highly unlikely.
Liberals fit under an umbrella of sorts so that should be enough justification.
You are mistaken if you think that is the only cover used by pedophiles to gain access to children. A huge number of children are molested by family members and close friends of the family. Pedophiles network and share info on ways and means to manipulate children.
ok so people r bashing not knowing the situation. he didnt work with homeless children. he worked as a pastor for the homelss and poor. and yes he has done something stupid. and everything but knowing him and everything no one in the church ever thought of this to happen in a million years.. it took over 100 people by suprise when we found out.
Child predators are good at hiding in plain sight. That is why thorough background checks are supposed to be done for any position that might bring him into contact with children.
And a background check only shows something once they’ve been caught at it.
True, but you have to start somewhere. And if you don’t even look, then you will never find anything.
I’m not saying don’t look, I’m just saying that background checks are not a solid safety net. Most that have something on record in their background will stay clear of places that require a background check. Those that have hidden their crimes well will sail through a check. Many cases in point in the BDN over the past year and more.
wunceinabluemoon, this is true, but at least it’s an attempt. Chances are if a pedophile knows you’re interviewing people in their old community, s/he will cut and run rather than take the chance of being caught. A background check should NEVER rely only on legal channels; people in a community will always know more about a person than does the PD.
The situation is that child pornography was found on his computer …… child pornography is illegal. What you refer to as “he has done something stupid” is actually a crime.
She is in denial.
Isen’t she tho!!
Samantha, did you not think to make sure that a person who has unlimited access to your children was not a pedophile (and they are your children; homeless children are the responsibility of the community)? Allowing the ‘badge’ of clergy carte blanche in a comunity without making an attempt to sure that our children are safe is like allowing a poodle inside a henhouse because it doesn’t look like a fox.
he didn’t just do something stupid he did something disgusting and criminal. those images on the computer are real children. innocent human beings being hurt and victimized by these sick perverts! how can anyone look at that. i can’t even comprehend how any human being can do those things to children let alone watch someone doing it. just plain sick! i’m sure you were surprised because he probably was so nice to everyone and helpful. they always act that way otherwise they wouldn’t be able to get away with these crap!
Sounds like some posters are asuming he was a Catholic. But the New Beginnings Christian Mission in Biddeford
is listed as a Southern Baptist church.
Thank you for posting that. I’m tired of people blaming Catholics for all the sins of rogue ministers.
Wrong Church, but right pew.
If the Vatican had not tried to cover the abuse up in the 1960’s the church would be allot better off today.
I don’t think the Catholic church was alone in having clergy that molested children. I think they were just the most blatantly stupid in how they dealt with it.
I know what you mean. As some guy said a couple thousand years ago.. It’s our number one job to protect the young, the poor and the sickly. It isn’t that critical to protect the reputation of an institution or even our family. Or even to keep Linda’s taxes low.
All children are vulnerable. But to go after those whose parents don’t have the resources to put a roof over their heads shows a heightened sense of depravity. I know the article says he was arrested for possession of child porn, not child sex abuse. But we all know people don’t just look at porn for its intrinsic value. They use it to facilitate sexual acts. I hope this man is investigated by every church or organization he ever worked for as a minister. This sort of behavior doesn’t just manifest out of the blue. He’s 60 years old. There victim count could be astounding.
A Tip.. That must have a new meaning for the police being in everyones computer.. What this priest did was wrong. … But people thinking that it’s OK for the police to be able to axcess everyones computer without a warrant is also wrong.. You see this is how freedom is lost a little bit at a time, by people thinking well it’s ok to snoop into people lives if they are doing illegal stuff… You people are as sick as he is.
Where does it say they didn’t have a warrant? Searching his computer without a warrant is a sure fire way of having the pictures inadmissible in court.
They do have to have a warrent. Not that it’s very hard to get one when protecting kids are involved.
If you have nothing to hide, what is the big deal with someone looking at what you have on your computer? My freedom isn’t lost if I have done nothing wrong! My freedom should be lost if I have…
When you believe in fairy tales, you get monsters.
Computers are not secure, all kinds of entities rummage through them. Freedom is also lost by pedophiles and deviants roaming free. I’m fine with law enforcement accessing computers on a sound tip. glad they got him.
I believe the police can track users of pornography web sites, that’s how they catch a lot of them. I don’t think they are interested in other users that view news web sites, or other web sites that may interest us.
What is it with you? if you don’t like Maine, LEAVE. If you aren’t here, why are you trolling?
Totally unnecessary comment; in VERY bad taste.
no, what’s “bad taste” are people like this who prey on children. Even though he didn’t take those pictures, people like him cause demand for them. Children got hurt because of this.
It isn’t in bad taste. Child porn is not a victimless crime! People are taught to trust and respect clergy and this happens. Until the punishment fits the crime this will keep happening. We need the lawmakers to change the punishments for these types of crimes.GIVE HIM THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE if found guilty. Remember in America you are innocent until proven guilty.
And just why is the comment in “bad taste”?—Some of you people need to face facts that because you call yourself a “preacher” does not make you a good person!—You need to deal with it!!
The only “very bad taste” is the one left in the mouths of decent people who would NEVER even IMAGINE using child pornography or of doing anything to hurt children. This “pastor” is pond scum if he is guilty of this.
Wow, junk09, do you think it might be something in the water in Maine that only potential pedophiles are allergic to? Perhaps it’s not safe for you to drink the water here; never know what’s lurking.
Glen Ross has first dibs
After his trial the Catholic church will make him an honorary priest!
Another example of somebody hiding behind what they think is a “trusting” label (pastor, etc.) in an attempt to hide their true selves. This sickens me. I would never trust my children to any stranger, but people like this pastor tend to prey upon those who are vulnerable and in situations where they HAVE to put trust in someone…who better than a fine christian, right? (blah!!!)
Holy cow, here we go again…
TOTALLY understandable, appreciated, and even funny. Thanks for the good belly-laugh!
If only the sheriff had tipped him off first.
The sheriffs department should have given him the heads up, He could have distroyed his computer prior to the arrest..
Why? Don’t you want people like him caught?
New here?? Carlson case sarcasim
Are you sure you can recognize sarcasm? You don’t seem to have caught mine….
The Moral Majority is NEITHER………..
Only in Maine? Wow! Thanks for the info. I didn’t know the other 49 states were completely free of kiddie porn sickos. Not counting your lively imagination, was there an additional source from which you got this information – a website or a magazine?
New Beginnings Christian Mission? I don’t think we want the “new beginnings” that this pastor is promoting! How sad that – apparently – one more sick-minded religious person is taking advantage of the children that are the most vulnerable.
…And this guy *could* be a cub-scout leader. Such sound reasoning from the scout leaders to ban gay people and allow this guy.