Dover – Delaware Child Predator Task Force detectives have arrested a Dover man on child pornography charges following an investigation into the online distribution of child pornography, Attorney General Beau Biden announced today.

“With each arrest our Child Predator Task Force makes we put all predators on notice that we have the tools to uncover your criminal acts, the resources to track you down, and the authority to take you off the streets so that you can no longer be a threat our children,” Biden said.

After the investigation identified a person of interest as 37 year-old Joel W. Thorpe, Task Force members made contact with him yesterday at Dover Air Force Base, where he is stationed as an active duty Air Force member, and took him to DSP Troop #3 for further investigation.  At the same time, detectives executed a search warrant at Thorpe’s residence on Edgewood Road in Dover.  During the search, multiple computers and numerous digital storage devices were seized.  An initial forensic examination of the seized evidence recovered multiple images of child pornography.

As a result of the investigation detectives arrested Thorpe and charged him with 25 counts of dealing in child pornography.  He was arraigned via videophone by JP Court #2 and was taken to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $375,000 cash bail.

The Delaware Child Predator Task Force investigation continues.  A booking image of Thorpe is below:

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