A former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, charged earlier this month with sexually exploiting a minor, now faces federal charges.

A federal grand jury has handed down an indictment against Robert Matthews, 51, of Orem on one count of possession of child pornography.

Matthews was charged Oct. 6 in 4th District Court with four felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of lewdness involving a child, a misdemeanor. State prosecutors moved to have those charges dismissed in lieu of the federal charges.

According to police, Matthews was arrested on Sept. 28 after evidence that he swam naked with four young boys during a trip to Diamond Fork Hot Springs last July and took pictures of the nude swim. The boys were reported to be ages 7, 10, 13 and 15.

The indictment states that Matthews used a computer and other equipment to process the images, which violates federal interstate commerce laws. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison.

Court records show Matthews has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. A jury trial has been set for December with a cut-off date for any plea agreement set for Dec. 1.

Matthews, who joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in January, was released after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints learned of his arrest, according to a church official.

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