TMCnet News
Comic artist pleads not guilty to having child pornBRIDGEPORT, May 24, 2011 (Connecticut Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A nationally known comic book illustrator pleaded not guilty Tuesday to possessing more than a hundred photographs and video depicting child pornography. Josue Rivera, 38, who illustrates for DC Comics under the name Justiniano, pleaded not guilty before Superior Court Judge George Thim to first-degree possession of child pornography and elected a trial by jury. The judge continued the case to June 8. Rivera and his lawyer, Diane Polan, declined comment as they left the courtroom. Meanwhile, Rivera's former wife said she is upset a judge refused to grant her a restraining order blocking Rivera from having contact with his two young children. On May 12 Superior Court Judge Heidi Winslow denied Maria Rivera a restraining order against her former husband without comment. "We have two children, whom I tried to protect after the horrific incident of his arrest, by going to the court with my lawyer to try to get an order of protection for my young sons," Maria Rivera complained. "So much for a court that really cares about the well being of the children. God forbid I try to keep my children away from their dad, who just got accused of not a traffic violation, or even something like embezzlement or stealing a car, but first degree possession of child pornography." Josue Rivera was arrested after police said he accidentally gave a local funeral home director a thumb drive containing child pornography instead of one that had photographs of a deceased relative to be shown at a funeral. Police later examined the thumb drive and said they found 33 files of child pornography including the photograph of one young girl who police said appears to be the defendant's niece. Police later seized a computer from Rivera's home. It was examined by a special unit of the Monroe Police Department which found 153 files of suspected child pornography including three videos. The Child Recognition and Identification System identified 35 children who were in the photos and videos. Contact Daniel Tepfer at 203-330-6308 or [email protected]. Follow him on twitter.com/dantepfer To see more of the Connecticut Post, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ctpost.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |