‘Defund the Police’ Protest Leader Arrested on Child Porn Charges
Black Lives Matter organizer arrested on 6 counts of possession of child sex abuse images
© press
A Black Lives Matter activist, who organized recent protests calling to "defund the police," has been arrested on child pornography possession charges, according to reports.
37-year-old BLM organizer Christopher Devries, of Jackson, New Hampshire, was arrested Friday on charges of possession of both child sexual abuse images and drugs, police said.
He was also charged with falsifying physical evidence after reportedly trying to destroy his smartphone during his arrest.
Devries’ home was raided by the Jackson Police Department and several other law enforcement agencies after executing a search warrant following a lengthy investigation into suspected child sex abuse activity, JPD said in a news release.
Far-left activist Devries was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Carroll County Jail, the release said.
He is charged with six counts of possession of child sexual abuse images, one count of possession of drugs and one count of falsifying physical evidence.
© press
Jackson police also found psilocybin mushrooms during the search, according to the news release.
Each count of possession of child sexual abuse images, which is a Class A felony, is punishable by up to 15 years in state prison and a $4,000 fine.
Possession of psilocybin mushrooms, a Class B felony, is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $4,000 fine.
The child abuse images reportedly showed underage girls in “lewd exhibition” of private parts or taking part in sexual activity.
Devries is being held without bail pending arraignment in Carroll County Superior Court in Ossipee on Monday, according to the news release.
According to News Thud, Devries is a leader of a recent Black Lives Matter/Defund the Police protest he called “Skate Away the Hate.”
He also worked at the Municipal Budget Committee for the town of Conway, New Hamshire.
The “Skate Away the Hate” protest involved protesters riding bikes and skateboards down Route 16 in New Hampshire.
From a loudspeaker, Devries yelled demands he claims were conveyed to him by local Black Lives Matter chapters.
"If we divest funds from police and prison systems we all benefit,” said DeVries.
"Those funds can go to local communities and social services.
"I feel like this is one of the best things I can do as a father on Father’s Day…
"I want to live in a world where racism is not accepted or tolerated, and I don’t want to live in a community or know there are communities in this country where people are afraid of their local police,” Devries shouted during the protest.
Jackson Police Chief Chris Perley warned that those calling to "defund the police" may have ulterior motives.
"I can’t comment on this case specifically or Mr. Devries as he is a charged criminal defendant pending adjudication and presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Chief Perley said.
"But I can say that generally speaking, people should be very cautious about listening to voices suggesting defunding of the police because their motives are not always in the best interest of society.”
© press
Local newspaper the Conway Daily Sun reported that a forensic examiner with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force discovered the material on Devries phone:
According to Perley’s probable cause statement, a forensic examiner with Internet Crimes Against Children found more than 60 images of child sexual abuse on Devries’ phone.
Devries admitted to viewing and sharing child pornography and also that the mushrooms were used as drugs, Perley said.
Jackson Police and several other police agencies executed a search warrant at the Devries home on Wilson Road at 11:45 a.m. Friday after tips were received by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The case, which remains active and ongoing, originated from CyberTips received by the State of New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to the news release.
Anyone who may have information on the case is encouraged to call Jackson Police Chief Christopher Perley at 383-9292.
