LOS ANGELES (AP) — A deputy city attorney in Los Angeles has been arrested on suspicion of distributing child pornography.

The Los Angeles Times reported Friday (http://lat.ms/1Agsk0t) that deputy Los Angeles city attorney Christopher Richard Garcia was taken into custody Thursday after being under investigation since last fall.

Officer Liliana Preciado, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department, says authorities found questionable images and evidence of child exploitation after seizing and searching Garcia’s home computer in November.

The newspaper reports that jail records show he posted $40,000 bail. Efforts by The Associated Press on Saturday to reach Garcia and determine if he has a lawyer were unsuccessful.

City attorney spokesman Rob Wilcox said Garcia was placed on administrative leave 10 months ago, after the office became aware of the allegations.

The city attorney’s office prosecutes misdemeanors and defends Los Angeles in litigation.

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