Enrique Pearce, the San Francisco political consultant arrested on possession of child pornography last week, was in court Wednesday for arraignment, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Pearce, who was represented in court by attorney Eileen Burke, faces six felony charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography.

Prosecutors asked the judge to increase Pearce's bail to $400,000 due to the serious nature of the charges and said some of the images found in Pearce's possession showed toddlers being sodomized by adult males and young children under 8 years old being tied up.

Burke disagreed with the higher bail amount and said this is not a case of child molestation, but charges of possession of images.

Pearce, 41, was arrested last Thursday after police executed a search warrant at Leavenworth and McAllister streets in the Civic Center area.

He bailed out of County Jail the following day when his bail was originally set at $250,000.

The District Attorney's Office formally charged Pearce on Monday.

He pleaded not guilty Wednesday and after his bail was raised he was remanded back into custody.

He is scheduled to return to court June 22.

Pearce was one of The City's most successful and sometimes controversial political consultants. He's been connected to a wide range of politicians and former candidates from Matt Gonzalez to Supervisor Jane Kim and Mayor Ed Lee.

Bay Area NewsChild PornographyCrimeCrime & CourtsEnrique PearceSan Francisco District Attorney's Office