Cartoonist Darrin Bell Arrested on Child Porn Charges

Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Darrin Bell, known for his work syndicated by the Washington Post, has been arrested in Sacramento for possession of child pornography, including AI-generated material. The investigation was initiated following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which reported 18 files of child sexual abuse material being uploaded, leading to the discovery of 134 videos linked to Bell's account. Bell was taken into custody with bail set at $1 million and is scheduled to appear in court soon. This case marks the first arrest in Sacramento under a new law criminalizing AI-generated child pornography. Bell, who has been a prominent critic of political figures like Donald Trump, is recognized for his work on comic strips 'Candorville' and 'Rudy Park,' as well as his 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning. The arrest has raised questions about his future in the cartooning industry.