Kids Mural Nonprofit Director Charged in Child Porn Case

The FBI said Thursday that the director of a San Francisco nonprofit children's art organization that has worked with has been charged with possession of child pornography.

Anthony Josef Norris, 46, of San Francisco, the founder and director of Kid Serve, surrendered to FBI agents Thursday morning, according to Julianne Sohn, spokeswoman for the FBI's regional office.

Norris was charged with child pornography possession in a criminal complaint filed in federal court in San Francisco on May 26. He made an initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate Thursday morning and was released on a $200,000 bond, Sohn said.

Kid Serve works with Bay Area school children to create outdoor murals. According to the group's website, it worked with third graders from Old Mill School over 14 weeks during the winter of 2007-2008 to create the large mosaic mural in the school's playground. The organization began in San Francisco and has expanded to work with children in Oakland, Berkeley and Marin and Contra Costa counties.

FBI agent Lydia Durben said in an affidavit filed with the complaint that the investigation began after child pornography videos posted on the Internet were traced to Norris's home address.

Durben alleged in the affidavit that a search of Norris's computer showed at least 600 images of sexual exploitation of pre-pubescent children.

The charge carries a possible maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if Norris is convicted.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.