Sacramento – A longtime Sacramento Bee business reporter has been charged with possession of child pornography by prosecutors who alleged he secretly filmed a cheerleader competition.

Gilbert Chan, 52, was charged with a single felony count of possessing obscene matter depicting sexual conduct of a person under 18, the newspaper reported in an unbylined story.

The paper, quoting the Bee’s vice president of human resources, Linda Brooks, said Chan has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

According to the Bee account, someone witnessed Chan videotaping a Feb. 3 competition among cheerleaders ranging in age from 6 to 18 at the University of California Davis. According to authorities, he was trying to conceal the camera.

Prosecutors said Chan was not arrested at the scene, but after further investigation, including a look at the videotape.

Chan was later booked into the Yolo County Jail but was released on $50,000 bail.

Chan’s attorney, Stephen Sabbadini, said he is still reviewing the charge but said his client is not a child pornographer.

“First of all, I want to make sure the public understands, he was not in possession of any photos or video of any nude or naked children,” Sabbadini said. “Nor is he accused of possessing any photos or videos of children engaged in sexual acts. Nor he is charged with any allegations of any improper touching of any children.”

Chan faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison.