PIKEVILLE, KY (WMDJ) — A Pike County man initially charged by state police with possessing child pornography is now facing federal prosecution.

In a press release on October 29th, Kentucky State Police said that 34-year-old Charles Michael Hopkins of Virgie was arrested after they'd received a tip that he had been uploading and downloading explicit images of children online. Federal officials have since taken over the case.

Documents filed in U.S. District Court outline the investigation, which began in June when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a report to KSP. Additional reports followed the next month, leading police to obtain a search warrant for Hopkins’ home.

Agents say several electronic devices were seized during the search. Hopkins reportedly acknowledged having received and shared illegal images online, but denied producing any of them.

He was initially charged with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. The federal case remains under investigation.