Fire official indicted on child porn charges

EAST ST. LOUIS -- An assistant fire chief in southern Illinois has been jailed without bond after being accused by federal grand jurors of child pornography.

Forty-five-year-old Kristopher McNew was indicted in East St. Louis of receiving and possessing child porn. A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.

McNew is on administrative leave from the volunteer fire department in Saline County's Carrier Mills. He was arrested earlier this month.

Authorities have said McNew admitted viewing and sharing the pornography over the Internet, and that a pair of girl's underwear found by searchers of his home was his souvenir from a house fire he helped douse.

The Associated Press left a message with McNew's attorneys seeking comment.