ALFRED (AP) — The former pastor of a Biddeford church has avoided prison time after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.

Prosecutors saythat James Napier entered his plea to 10 counts of possession of sexually explicit materials of a minor under 12 on Wednesday in York County Superior Court.

His entire five-year prison sentence was suspended for 12 years of probation, with conditions including no contact with children under the age of 16 and no serving in a church capacity.

Police say a search of Napier’s computer in 2012 found more than 100 images of child porn. Investigators said none of the children in the images was from Maine.

Shortly after his arrest, Napier resigned as the pastor of the New Beginnings Christian Mission in Biddeford.

Comments are no longer available on this story

filed under: