Several local newspapers have affirmed their decisions to drop the cartoon “Candorville” from their daily and online editions following the arrest of the comic’s illustrator earlier this month.

Darrin Bell, 49, was arrested in south Sacramento on numerous charges of possessing child pornography, including some images that were reportedly created using artificial intelligence. It is the first case involving software-created child sex abuse material under a new law enacted in California at the start of the year that categorizes those images as child pornography.

Bell has entered a plea of not guilty, and was released from jail under court supervision.

Candorville was distributed by King Features on a daily basis, and appeared in numerous daily and Sunday newspapers. Over the past few weeks, a number of newspapers have announced their intention to drop the comic, with some specifically citing Bell’s arrest.

On Friday, the Fairfield-Suisun Daily Republic in Northern California said it would offer readers the opportunity to pick Candorville’s replacement, adding that the comic strip was being “discontinued,” though the newspaper stopped short of saying King Features was no longer distributing it.

The Chronicle Telegram newspaper in Elyria, Ohio and the Meadville Tribune in Pennsylvania have issued similar notes to readers, announcing the decision to stop offering Candorville in their editions.

It was not clear if Candorville is still being produced by Bell; newspaper comics are typically created several weeks prior to their publication, and a February 2 comic is expected next Sunday.

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Editor’s note: The author of this story worked for McNaughton Newspapers, the owner of the Fairfield-Suisun Daily Republic, and briefly contributed to that publication while employed. Read our journalism ethics statement by clicking or tapping here.