NEWCASTLE (AP) — A Maine-based artist whose paintings are galleries nationwide faces child pornography charges.

Police say 58-year-old Robert Ransley of Newcastle was arrested at his home Wednesday and charged with possessing sexually explicit material of someone under the age of 12, a Class D misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

He has posted $1,000 bail.

Police say his computer was seized earlier this month and an analysis showed thousands of images of child porn. None of the images are believed to be from Maine.

Ransley says in on website he has previously lived in Arizona, Missouri, Florida and Georgia. He could not be reached for comment.

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