Smithfield employee charged with viewing child porn at work

SMITHFIELD -- Police charged a Town of Smithfield employee today with looking at child porn at work, officials announced.

Investigators launched an investigation of the former employee after an inappropriate picture of a juvenile female was printed from his computer at work, police reported this afternoon.

Paul Hansen Hulth, 53, of Clayton was arrested today following an investigation that began this spring, according to a Smithfield Police Department press release.

Hulth, who has since been relieved of his duties with the town, worked as an engineering technician with the town's operations center, police reported.

Police have charged Hulth with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the release.

Police started their investigation of Hulth on April 7 when his fellow employees saw the inappropriate picture that was printed from his computer, according to the press release.

Police said they found more child pornography on his work computer during their investigation, according to the release.

Hulth is in custody at the Johnston County jail under a $400,000 bail, police reported.

He could spend up to 20 years in prison for each felony count if he is convicted of the offenses, state records show.