PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man arrested while allegedly viewing sexually explicit images of minors in the Port Angeles Library last week has been charged with seven counts of possessing child pornography.
Kevin Alden Clark, 46, was formally charged Tuesday afternoon in Clallam County Superior Court with seven counts of first-degree possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Clark’s arraignment is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 28 at the Clallam County Courthouse. Clark is being held in the Clallam County jail on a $2,500 bond.
Port Angeles police arrested Clark last Thursday for investigation of two counts of possessing child pornography.
After being alerted by library staff, a Port Angeles detective in plainclothes at the library arrested Clark, who had three thumb drives with him that later were found to contain images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Prior to the arrest, police confirmed with library staff that Clark had requested the adult content filter on the public computer terminal he was using be turned off, which staff told officers Clark did often, according to court documents filed last week.
Paula Barnes, director of the North Olympic Library System — which consists of public libraries in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay — said any adult 18 years or older can ask for the adult content filters on the public computer terminals to be turned off.
The filters are on by default, she said.
Barnes declined to comment on the specifics of Clark’s arrest due to the ongoing investigation but said library staff had received two complaints about Clark allegedly viewing child pornography over the past few years.
At the time, library staff were not able to substantiate either complaint, she said.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
