Vancouver man suspected of viewing child porn

A registered sex offender accused of possessing more than 200 images of child pornography on his computer appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court.

Fred J. Beeman, 51, of Vancouver appeared on suspicion of two counts each of first- and second-degree viewing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Beeman was convicted in January 2012 of two counts of child molestation and one count of possessing child pornography. The victims were 4 and 7. He also was convicted in 2001 of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.

Beeman, who was sentenced to prison, was granted early release in February, the affidavit states.

During a routine search of his residence by an officer with the Department of Corrections, the officer found hand-written notes with web addresses to child pornography sites and other violations of Beeman’s probation, court records said.

Officers seized his computer and recovered about 200 child sex abuse images, court documents said. Officers also found evidence that he had visited numerous sites promoting child sex abuse of preschool and elementary school-aged children, according to court documents.

On Monday, Judge Gregory Gonzales set Beeman’s bail at $50,000. He will be arraigned Friday.