A Buxton man who lives in a home where a day care center operated was charged Monday with possession of child pornography.

Peter J. Blanchette, 27, was arrested on a charge of possession of sexually explicit material, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

McCausland said that Blanchette lives with his mother, Alma “Evie” York, who operates Country Corner Kids Daycare at 455 Long Plains Road in Buxton.

McCausland said Maine State Police investigators have determined that York was unaware of her son’s activities and had no involvement with the child pornography that her son was allegedly viewing.

“There is nothing to indicate, at least in the early stages of the investigation, that he had anything to do with the children,” McCausland said.

The state police Computer Crimes Unit began investigating the day care program after getting a tip about Blanchette’s activities, according to McCausland. He said the tip did not indicate that Blanchette had any involvement with the children who were being cared for at the center.

State police investigators then contacted the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, which licenses Country Corner Kids Daycare. The center is licensed to care for as many as 12 children.

According to the state’s website, there have been no sanctions against Country Corner Kids Daycare since it opened in May 2004. It is fully licensed, but its license is due to expire June 22.

McCausland said some of the children were present when investigators arrived Monday morning to arrest Blanchette and to seize his computer. Blanchette was taken to the Buxton Police Department after his arrest, then released on unsecured bail.

Blanchette’s computer will be analyzed by the Computer Crimes Unit, which will determine if there were any victims from Maine.

Blanchette is due to make his initial court appearance in Alfred on Aug. 7.

 

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