FERRIDAY — Federal agents arrested the former assistant chief of police for Ferriday on child pornography charges Monday morning.

In an indictment from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Shreveport, federal authorities allege that “on or about May 16” Steve Cockerham “did knowingly possess computer disks and other material that contained images of child pornography.”

Cockerham is charged with one count of possession of child pornography.

While the agency does not discuss the details of a pending case, Federal Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Special Agent Sheila Thorne said FBI agents from Alexandria made the arrest at Cockerham’s home.

In the indictment, Cockerham was ordered to turn over a computer, a hard drive, multiple thumb drives and other computer media storage devices, including CDs, floppy disks and DVDs, items that the federal agents claimed Monday, Lisa Langley with the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Cockerham also made an initial court appearance in the Alexandria division of the Western District of Louisiana U.S. District Court Monday.

He was released on federal bond pending a Jan. 8 arraignment and detention hearing.

An indictment is not a legal indication of guilt like a conviction.

When Cockerham was indicted, it meant that the federal grand jury believed that there was enough evidence against him to bring him to trial.