Former Bismarck Radio DJ Found With Explicit Child Abuse Material

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A man by the name of Benjamin Merritt Chartier (40) was apprehended by Fargo authorities yesterday (12/05/24). He is being charged with possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to KVRR, North Dakota BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) began investigating Chartier after receiving tips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.

According to the source, Chartier had been found uploading videos of children engaging in sexual activity and being sexually abused by adults.

The source claims one of the videos shows a 16- and 3-year-old child engaging in sexual activity with each other.

Another video shows a 3-year-old child getting sexually abused by an adult.

The source also says Chartier had been sending text messages to others about being sexually attracted to children.

Local Radio Personality In Bismarck and Fargo

Chartier is a familiar face in our community. In the Fall of 2022 he worked as a Radio DJ at an iHeart Radio station in Bismarck.

He went by the name "Ben Merritt" on-air.

He stayed there for several months, then left to work at another radio station in Fargo, owned by Midwest Communications. He was working at that station at the time of his arrest.

He is now in custody and is being held at Cass County Jail and awaits trial.

Check back for more updates.