SBI To Investigate Computer Equipment Found At Hope Mills Home

The State Bureau of Investigation is looking at computer equipment found at a Hope Mills home late Thursday night after a tip led authorities to believe the equipment may have been used for child pornography.

Members of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force entered a home at Hunting Ridge Road in Hope Mills Thursday night after receiving a tip. The owner of the home, James Helfer, gave SBI officials permission to search his home.

"When a search was conducted of the suspect's residence, [authorities] found and seized four computers, over 400 floppy disks, over 100 CDs, also videos," said SBI crime specialist Randy Myers.

The computers found in the home will be sent to the SBI crime lab for forsenic analysis. Officials said the task force moved quickly on the case so that the evidence would not be destroyed.

Helfer is the Street Superintendent for the town. The town manager said Helfer remains employed by the town.

He does not have a criminal record in North Carolina. He has not been charged with any wrongdoing.