Goshen Man arrested on child pornography charges

On November 21, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced the arrest of James Harris, 71, of Goshen, by the Village of Goshen Police Department. Harris was charged with possessing a sexual performance by a child.

According the police, Harris allegedly traded online in child pornography, including videos and pictures of children engaged in sexual activity with adults. This activity was flagged by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Digital Forensics Unit (“DFU”) through the use of specialized investigative techniques that identified the transfer of these files. Once the DFU identified the activity, they worked with the Village of Goshen Police Department to locate the source of the material. A search warrant was later executed at Harris’s residence where law enforcement officers reported seizing cellphones, tablets and computers; which, after a forensic examination, were “found to contain child pornography.”

In addition to the work by the DFU and Goshen Village Police Department, the investigation and arrest were also assisted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations Unit and their electronics sniffing dog that was used during the search warrant execution.

“Children are the most vulnerable and innocent of victims,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “It requires the coordinated and dedicated efforts of law enforcement to track down child pornography that is possessed and disseminated in our community. I know that the resources allocated to the DFU are vital to assisting our local law enforcement partners in these complicated investigations. Those who choose to engage in this behavior should take heed that we will not cease in our pursuit of these crimes.”

Police are asking anyone with information related to this case, or with any other relevant information related to the defendant, to come forward and call the Village of Goshen Police Department at 845-294-7988.