A 55-year-old Black River Falls man is facing child pornography charges.

Kurt R.B. Richards, 708 Harrison St., is charged with possession of child pornography and was arrested May 29. Richards is out of jail on a $5,000 signature bond, which includes no contact with minors and no use of the Internet.

Police Chief Donald Gilberg said police were alerted to the possibility that Richards may be in possession of child pornography after firefighters went to his home May 23 for a kitchen stove fire.

During the call, an officer went upstairs to shut off a radio and noticed Richards’ computer was on. He went to shut off the computer and saw there was a girl on the screen, between 9 and 11 years old, wearing a bikini, a police complaint said

Officer Roger Nielsen started an investigation and obtained a search warrant, which was executed Thursday.

Two computers and magnetic storage media were seized during a search of Richards’ home. Richards was arrested and jailed overnight before being released Friday.

Richards appeared Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court.