MARION COUNTY — A 30-year-old Centralia man is in the Marion County Jail following his arrest on a warrant accusing him of possessing child pornography.

Jason J. Howard was formally charged Wednesday in Marion County Court with 10 Class 2 felony counts of possessing child pornography depicting a child under the age of 13.

Deputy Detective Bobby Wallace with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says his office received a tip from Homeland Security’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in October of 2022 regarding Howard’s possible involvement in child pornography through Facebook Messenger. That tip set into motion an investigation that resulted in a search warrant being executed at Howard’s home and for his electronic devices.

The completed investigation was handed over to the Marion County State’s Attorney’s Office and a warrant was issued Tuesday for Howard’s arrest. Howard was released from the Marion County Jail Wednesday under special conditions. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for February 7.