A 43-year-old Hutchinson man arrested back in June in association with the download and alleged distribution of child pornography waived his right to a preliminary hearing at entered a not guilty plea in the case.

Wayne Allen Pendarvis of 110 West 36th, was charged by the state with a single count of sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 18, for being in possession of the images and for allegedly distributing the pictures.

It started when the Exploited and Missing Child Unit of the Wichita Police Department received a partial download from a shared file, allegedly from Pendarvis and that led to a joint investigation. A search warrant was served on his home and during the search, they seized his computer and allegedly there were more images of children on his computer.

Pendarvis had been employed at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility as a counselor, but has since left that job.

With the not guilty plea, his case will be placed on the trial docket in Judge Trish Roses court.

Pendarvis has also been ordered to not have any contact with children under the age of 18.