LINCOLN PARK, Mich. – A 42-year-old man faced child pornography charges Thursday after police say they caught him in the act of downloading child pornography off the Internet during a search of his home.

A flier circulated in the neighborhood where James P. Finn lived identifying him as a “pedophile activist” that included his name and photograph led police to investigate Finn, Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans said.

During a search of Finn’s home Tuesday, police said they found about 30 digital movies and nearly 600 photos showing children in sexual situations. They said Finn was downloading child pornography when investigators entered his home.

“That’s the investigative equivalent of lightning striking when and where you want it to,” Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans said in a statement. He said the flier brought Finn to the attention of investigators.

Finn was arraigned in 25th District Court on three counts of using the Internet to download child pornography and three counts of possession of child pornography, the Wayne County sheriff’s department said.

He was being held in lieu of $250,000 bond, and faces a July 31 preliminary hearing.

Finn wasn’t represented in court by a lawyer. A message seeking comment was left Thursday afternoon at a telephone listing under his name.

The sheriff’s department did not identify who sent the fliers.

The downloading charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the possession charges carry up to seven years.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)