El Pasoan held on federal child porn charges denied bond

A federal judge denied bail for an El Paso man charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.

Mark Edward Erhardt, 44, is a former employee of the El Paso Independent School District who resigned in 2010.

He was arrested last week after federal agents searched his Northeast El Paso home.

Erhardt admitted to allegedly using file sharing software to download child pornography onto DVDs.

During their search, authorities also said they found a methamphetamine lab in Erhardt’s kitchen.

In court Wednesday, a neighbor testified saying she never saw criminal activity at the house and that Erhardt was always friendly when they saw each other outside.

Judge Richard Mesa said Erhardt was not fit to be released because he had been using meth for the last year.