MT. VERNON – Bond was set at half-million dollars Friday in Jefferson County Court for a 56-year-old Mt. Vernon man accused of sexually abusing a child and of possessing child pornography.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Darren Meyer Wednesday after responding to a report of a disturbance at his address and someone wielding a knife.

Detectives were already investigating an earlier report indicating a 14-year-old girl was possibly the victim of voyeurism. That investigation later led to detectives believing the girl was also the victim of sexual abuse.

Meyer was ultimately arrested in the case and was formally charged Friday in court with Class 2 felony Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Victim under the age of 13, along with 10 Class 2 felony counts of Child Pornography.

Judge Jo Beth Weber set bond in the case at $500,000 and advised the defendant of the charges against him and their possible penalties.

The case is next scheduled in court for a preliminary hearing Sept. 21, along with a first appearance with Meyer’s court-appointed attorney.