By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — A father and son were arrested Aug. 14 for allegedly possessing pornographic images of minor children on their computers.
David B. Copley, 61, and a Will Copley, 30, both of Houlton, were arrested shortly after 5 p.m. at their 46 School St. residence by the Houlton Police Department for allegedly possessing pornographic images of minor children on their computers. The arrests were the result of a lengthy investigation conducted jointly with the Maine Computer Crimes Task Force. 
David Copley
Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin said members of the Houlton Police Department and the Maine Computer Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant at Copley’s residence on Aug. 2. Law enforcement officials seized a laptop, a desktop computer and an external hard drive. Evidence of pornographic images involving minor children were observed on the devices. The digital images were downloaded by the Copley’s using P2P (peer to peer) software. P2P software allows computers linked together to form a decentralized network that allows for the sharing of files between users.
Asselin said the identities of the children in the photos were not determined, but police do not believe them to be local children.
Both men were charged with possession of sexually explicit material of a minor under the age of 12. They are scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 19. If convicted, they each could face a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison.
The two men were released on bail from the Aroostook County Jail the next day. As a condition of their bail, HPD requested the Copley’s not be in possession of any electronic devices capable of accessing the Internet.
Will Copley The Copley residence is diagonally across from the Houlton Christian Academy. Asselin said there is no law in the state to prevent a sex offender from living next to a school or daycare establishment. According to the Maine Sex Offender Registry website, the only way a restriction can be placed on where an individual can reside is if those special conditions are stated during sentencing.
Two other adults residing at the residence were not charged in the case.
