A Jamestown man is facing charges of possessing child pornography.

U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. in a statement said Matthew Bailer, 33, was taken into custody and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to Harry Snellings, Jamestown police chief, the department received a complaint from a parent July 11 that her two minor children may have been sexually abused by Bailer. The parent stated that she was told by Bailer’s sister that she found a series of concerning pictures — sexual in nature — on a Nokia cellphone that was used by the Jamestown resident.

“The initial complaint was received by our department and followed up by one of our juvenile detectives,” Snellings told The Post-Journal. “When it was discovered that telecommunications was involved we contacted our local FBI office for assistance.”

Bailer was subsequently arrested on a warrant out of Missouri related to a burglary case. During a search of the Nokia cellphone, investigators recovered several hundred images of child pornography involving sexually explicit conduct by prepubescent and pubescent children, both male and female, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

“Because of the joint investigation and the severity of the charges it was in the best interest of the case to charge federally,” Snellings said. “The investigation is continuing and we anticipate additional local charges. This was a great job by everyone involved.”

Bailer made an initial appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder and was detained. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth R. Moellering is handling the case.

Jamestown police were assisted by the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office and Child Advocacy Center.