Aldridge could be back in N.H. by Tuesday

It seems like the case gets worse and worse. Alledgedly, the child porn consisted of females between the ages of 2 - 15. How can horrible things like that happen in Newport? It's shocking. A man who worked WITH the public and FOR the public, would do such things, it's horrible.


http://www.eagletimes.com/ET/LocalNews/story/090423-aam-npt-aldridge-update

Excerpts from the Eagle Times article... written by Archie Mountain.

NEWPORT -- At his arraignment late Thursday morning in San Bernardino County Superior Court in California, Aaron Aldridge, 42, of Newport, waived extradition to New Hampshire where he will face child pornography charges.

Aldridge was charged with being a fugitive from justice after being apprehended by the California Highway Patrol Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 15 about 20 miles from the California-Nevada state line.

"We've had a few concerned parents come forward and while there has been no direct link between Mr. Aldridge and anybody that we're aware of, we have taken appropriate steps to interview those people," Hoyt (NPD Chief) said.

The Newport chief, also working as the lead investigator on the case, said Newport police took an "astronomical amount of pornographic pictures" from Aldridge's home at 77 South Main St. A computer was also seized by police.

Hoyt said his department is working heavily on issues related to Aldridge's arrest in California and hasn't had a chance to examine the mounds of pornographic evidence in its possession.

Based on a preliminary inspection, Hoyt said the subjects in the photos, all females, appeared to be between the ages of 2 and 15.

As far as bringing Aldridge back to New Hampshire, Hoyt said in the past, the U.S. Marshal's Service was employed to transport prisoners from one jurisdiction to another but because of a cut in funds, that service is no longer available, Hoyt said.

Hoyt said a private contractor will be retained to accompany Aldridge back to New Hampshire. That bill will be paid by the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department, Hoyt said.

When Aldridge is arraigned on the child pornography charges in Newport District Court, Hoyt expects the prosecutor for the Newport Police Department will be requesting high cash bail. "Mr. Aldridge has already proven he is a flight risk," Hoyt said.

At his arraignment, Aldridge will not enter a plea. A probable cause hearing will be scheduled within 10 days by the court. At that time Aldridge could waive the probable cause hearing and his case would be bound over to Sullivan County Superior Court for a possible a grand jury indictment.

The judge could also rule that probable cause exists in the event Aldridge does not waive the hearing.

The alleged involvement by Aldridge has affected the morale of the police department staff in Newport, Hoyt said. "I'm sure it is also being felt at the county, state and probably the national level to a point," he said. "Every profession unfortunately has its bad apples."

Aldridge served as a full-time police officer in Newport from 1999 to 2004. At this point in the investigation, Hoyt said it is uncertain if evidence will eventually be uncovered that could possibly link Aldridge to the pornographic material during his tenure on the Newport police force. Aldridge was a reporter for the Eagle Times until last October.

Hoyt said Aldridge made it to California with a bit of luck along with his past law enforcement knowledge. "Mr. Aldridge had the ability to think things out and plan," Hoyt said.

As is the case with all new hires in the Newport Police Department, Hoyt said Aldridge was required to go through a very detailed psychological evaluation by a professional in the field along with an extensive background investigation and a polygraph interview with between 250 and 300 questions.

If it comes up that a portion of even one of those answers is partially wrong or false, the applicant is automatically disqualified as a candidate, Hoyt said. Aldridge did not come up short or fail any of the requirements, Hoyt said.