Police received a tip from a software technician hired to install a network system that there was child pornography on the office computer of Dr. Pete Thomas, a podiatrist. Detectives got a warrant, seized the computer and went to an FBI lab to check out the images.
"They located approximately 1,100 pictures of child pornography and/or child erotica. At that point, they went to the district attorney," said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna with the Santa Ana Police Department.
Thomas, who has no criminal history, was booked on possession of child pornography. He was out on $50,000 bail.
Police said there was no indication he was in contact with the children, who ranged in age from 7 to early teens.
Eyewitness News reached out to Thomas' attorney, who said, "We have no comment. We will resolve this in court."
