A former Sunnyvale schoolteacher has been arrested on a charge of possessing child pornography.

Chad Michael Hutchins was taken into custody Tuesday evening at his home in Forney after Kaufman County sheriff's deputies and Texas Rangers executed a search warrant.

Mr. Hutchins, 28, was being held in the Kaufman County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail and couldn't be reached for comment.

The Sunnyvale school district didn't renew Mr. Hutchins' contract after the school year that just ended, but it wasn't because of the porn charge, Superintendent Seth Adams said.

“We were completely shocked,” Mr. Adams said. “Our decision had nothing to do with this.”

Mr. Hutchins taught computer classes at Sunnyvale Middle School and worked on the school yearbook and newspaper and on the district's Web site. Before taking the Sunnyvale job, he had taught at the Texas Can! Academy in Dallas, authorities said.

Sheriff's Sgt. Richard Gaddis said someone close to Mr. Hutchins tipped authorities that he had pornographic material. Mr. Hutchins is not accused of producing any of the material or of having inappropriate contact with children.

The charge against him is a third-degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.