A Douglas County judge ruled Thursday that a Topeka-based defense expert witness must examine evidence in a child pornography case either at a secure lab in Kansas City or at the Lawrence Police Department.

Defense attorney Angela Keck had asked the defense expert be allowed to possess the materials to examine them out of his Topeka-based office to keep down costs because the Kansas Board of Indigents’ Defense Services is funding the expert.

But Chief District Judge Robert Fairchild said while the expert must have access to the evidence, it must remain in a secure location.

“I think I have to keep it in the custody and control of law enforcement or the court,” Fairchild said.

The 27-year-old defendant, who no longer lives in Kansas, faces three charges of sexual exploitation of a child. He is free on $30,000 bond and has pleaded not guilty to prosecutors’ allegations that he possessed the materials in 2005.

A Lawrence police detective has testified he found several images and videos on the man’s computer of children being molested.

The Journal-World generally does not identify suspects in sex crime cases unless they are convicted. Fairchild has not yet set a trial date.