BIDDEFORD, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- A pastor known for his work with the homeless in Biddeford has been arrested on charges he possessed child pornography. 60-year old Jim Napier was the director of New Beginnings Christian Mission in downtown Biddeford. State Police say Napier had more than 100 images of child porn on his computer at home. None of the photographs appear to have been taken locally, but the children do appear to be under the age of 12.
Police say the investigation started when they received a tip about Napier last Friday. He was arrested Saturday.
Pastor Barry Judd, the President of New Beginning's board, said Napier called him to say what happened Saturday night. Judd would not say what Napier told him, only that Napier resigned his post and has lost his ordination with the Mission's non-denominational church.
Napier had a very good reputation among those he served. John Holman, who said he sought spiritual guidance from Napier a couple of times said, "He liked a lot of people and tried to help people and stuff. And I didn't know he was like that."
Judd said Napier did not run any children's programming with the mission, and that the Mission has a policy that no child should be left alone with a single adult.
He said the overwhelming feeling from those served by the mission is sadness. "A great deal of sadness," Judd said. "Our group will be grieving this whole situation. Nothing good comes from this and we know that."
Napier is scheduled to make his first court appearance on October 23rd. He is currently out on bail and is not allowed to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.
NEWS CENTER