MANVILLE: FBI says resident’s computer contained downloaded child pornography

By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
   James L. Artfitch, 51, of South Main Street, was charged with possession of child pornography on April 7 for having more than 500 images of what FBI investigators said are pre-pubescent girls engaged in sexual acts, according to a release from the bureau’s Newark Field Office.
   The investigation began in 2008, when investigators determined an e-mail account allegedly registered to Mr. Artfitch had been used to send child pornography, Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun said.
   In March of 2008, investigators approached Mr. Artfitch, who consented to a search of his computer hard drive. The ensuing investigation revealed in excess of 500 images, which investigators ran through the Victim Identification Program Database at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The database check revealed that at least 13 of the images from Mr. Artfitch’s hard drive matched images of known child victims.
   To date, the investigation has not yielded any information suggesting that Mr. Artfitch was engaged in sexual acts with children or that he produced images of child pornography, the release read.
   Mr. Artfitch was released on bond after appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark later that day. If convicted, Mr. Artfitch faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
   Mr. Artfitch, a full-time mechanic at the Somerset County Vehicle Maintenance Department and a part-time school bus driver, was charged at the vehicle maintenance department in Bridgewater.
   The Newark FBI agents of the Innocent Images group, the New Jersey Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory, the Manville Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s office assisted in the investigation.