A Scio Township man charged with possessing child pornography pleaded not guilty in federal court in Detroit on Tuesday and was given a $100,000 unsecured bond, court records show.

It's unclear whether 63-year-old Richard Fabian, who also is charged in Canada with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, has been released from custody.

Richard Fabian

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit could not immediately be reached for comment this morning. Fabian, a former owner of an Ann Arbor real estate company, was arrested Tuesday at his home.

According to an indictment filed Thursday, he is charged with one count of possessing child pornography. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Fabian was arraigned Tuesday in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Virginia Morgan, court records show. The indictment says Fabian possessed a "a computer, computer media and VHS tapes containing still and video images that depict child pornography."

Investigators say the illegal items were seized when authorities searched Fabian's home in February 2009 as they investigated the case in Canada.

In that case, Fabian is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in a park nearly 17 years ago. The assault was videotaped by a man who is now in prison, investigators said.

Fabian is charged with sexual assault, corrupting morals and sexual interference with a person under 14. He is scheduled to return to court in that case May 21, officials at the Chatham-Kent Police Service in Ontario said Tuesday.

If convicted of those charges, he faces 14 to 25 years in prison.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 or email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.