BIDDEFORD — The work of the New Beginnings Christian Mission on Main Street will continue, despite the arrest of the mission’s director, James Napier, 60, of Alfred. Napier, a former Biddeford middle school music teacher, was arrested at his home on Saturday on child pornography-related charges.

State Police detectives uncovered more than 100 images of child pornography on Napier’s home computer, according to a statement by Maine State Police spokesman Steve McCausland.

“The leaders of the mission are completely committed” to continuing the work of the mission, said Pastor Barry Judd, the chief executive officer of the mission’s board of directors. Judd is the pastor of the Oak Ridge Bible Church on Oak Ridge Road. The church has no affiliation with New Beginnings, he said.

“The congregation was stunned and saddened at the news of the arrest of Mr. Napier,” said Judd.

After his arrest, Napier “stepped down immediately as director of the mission,” said Judd. The CEO said he will take over the day-to-day operations of the organization until a new director can be found.

Napier is charged with Class C felony possession of sexually explicit material depicting a child under 12 years old. The maximum jail sentence for a class C crime is five years.

Napier was taken to the York County Jail in Alfred after his arrest, according to a statement from McCausland, and was later released on $500 cash bail. His conditions of release require that Napier have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 and that he not use the Internet, stated McCausland.

Justin Kittredge, of the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, said Napier’s arrest followed a tip that was brought to his attention on Friday. Because the allegations involved child pornography and Napier had access to children, “the case was a priority for us,” he said, so officers went to the Napier home Friday night.

After Maine State Police interviewed Napier and others and conducted a forensic analysis of Napier’s home computer, the mission director was arrested, said Kittredge.

Kittredge, who joined the computer crimes unit one year ago after 14 years with the Lewiston Police Department, said he’s found people believe they have a sense of anonymity on the Internet.

Reached by phone Monday afternoon, Napier said a terse “no comment,” before hanging up.

“We had no inclination of this,” said Armand Tardiff, Tuesday, who is a member of the mission’s leadership.

“That’s too bad,” said Donald Hynes, who occasionally attends the mission, when he learned of Napier’s arrest Tuesday. “I don’t know why he would do that ”¦ he’s been happily married for a long time.”

According to a 2009 Journal Tribune interview with Napier regarding New Beginnings, he said he started the mission around 2005 with his wife, Cathy.

At that time, he said, in addition to religious teaching, the mission offered a literacy program and computer classes along with basic job skills. It also provided emergency food and a space for people to congregate, enjoy each other’s fellowship and escape inclement weather.

Napier said at the time that many of those served by the mission had physical, emotional and/or developmental disabilities, and many were low-income.

“We work with poor people. We work with people who have had a bad shake in life,” he said.

The mission will continue to host Wednesday night Bible study and Sunday worship services, said Judd. The board of directors will evaluate what other programs will be offered at New Beginnings.

Prior to his work as director of the New Beginnings Christian Mission, Napier taught instrumental music at Biddeford Middle School from 1989 to 2005, said Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray. Ray said he could not discuss the circumstances of Napier’s departure from the district.

He was also the director of the Bon Appetit Community Meal Program for more than two years, said program volunteer Annabelle Carpenter, before he was let go. Carpenter said she couldn’t comment on the circumstances behind Napier’s leaving the meal program because of confidentially regulations.

Napier is scheduled for his initial court appearance on Oct. 23 in Springvale District Court.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com. Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.