FAYETTEVILLE — A teaching assistant professor at the University of Arkansas was arrested Friday in connection with possessing child sexual abuse material, according to Fayetteville police.

Fayetteville police began investigating Joshua Eric McGee, 34, of Fayetteville in June after learning an IP address registered to him had downloaded a large amount of suspected child sexual abuse material, according to a probable cause affidavit. Using software tools, police determined suspected child sexual abuse material had been downloaded to McGee’s residential IP address from June into July.

McGee is a teaching assistant professor in the university’s exercise science department.

University officials said Tuesday afternoon McGee has been placed on administrative leave.

Police served a search warrant at McGee’s residence July 11. In an interview with police, McGee confessed to downloading multiple files of child pornography. He told police the age range of the children in the material was 8 to 17 years old.

McGee denied having child pornography on his phone or electronic devices, telling police he downloaded the material, viewed it and then deleted the material, according to the affidavit.

But police located a thumb drive containing multiple images divided into folders for different categories of child sexual abuse materials, according to the affidavit. They also found a hidden folder on McGee’s phone that contained more material. Some of the material consisted of infants being sexually abused, according to the affidavit.

McGee was arrested and later released from the Washington County jail on a $5,000 bond, according to jail records.