CASCO — Joe Payton of Casco, who was charged last week with possessing child pornography, is not an active member of the Casco Fire-Rescue Department, Fire Chief Jason Moen reported in a press release.

“Media reports are describing Payton as a member of the Casco Fire-Rescue Department. This description is not entirely accurate,” Chief Moen said.

Payton is a former member of the department, serving from 2006-2011, Moen said. Payton had recently begun the hiring process to return to the department, and was not an active member.

“Due to Payton’s arrest, his hiring process has been terminated and he is no longer affiliated with the department,” Moen said.

Last Wednesday, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit arrested Payton, the town of Windham’s animal control officer, and charged him with possessing child pornography.

Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said Payton, 22, was arrested without incident at his camper home in Casco and taken to the Cumberland County Jail. He is charged with possession of sexually explicit material. Payton lives in the camper with his girlfriend behind his mother’s house on the Leach Hill Road. Detectives found multiple images and videos of child porn on his computer, which was seized and will be analyzed, McCausland said.