Wilmington – Following a proactive online undercover investigation by the Child Predator Task Force, a Newark man employed as a school custodian has been arrested and charged with dealing in child pornography, Attorney General Beau Biden announced today.

“By taking predators offline and off the streets, the Child Predator Task Force harnesses the power of technology and the law to keep kids safe,” said Attorney General Biden.

On September 27, members of the Child Predator Task Force executed a search warrant at 47 Birchgrove Road in Newark with the assistance of a Delaware State Police trooper and detective. During the search of that address, which had been identified through a Task Force investigation into the distribution of child pornography on the Internet, assorted digital media were seized, including three computers. Forensic examination of the computers yielded over 50 video files of child pornography, which, along with interviews conducted, led to the arrest of Catlin Carl Lathem, a resident of the Birchgrove Road home. The investigation also revealed that Lathem, 20, is employed part-time as a custodian and groundskeeper at Red Lion Christian Academy, a private school in Bear with students in preschool through 12th grade. Lathem was charged with 25 counts of dealing in child pornography and was arraigned at JP Court 2. He is being held at James T. Vaughan Correctional Center in lieu of $625,000 bail. The investigation is ongoing.

A mug shot of Lathem is available upon request.

# # #

Print