Two area business partners were arrested separately on child pornography charges.

James A. Bonsant, 58, of North Seward Avenue in Auburn, was arrested Wednesday for allegedly possessing child pornography on his computer. His business partner, Larry R. LaVancher, 60, of Walker Road in Sennett, was arrested last week for distributing and possessing child pornography.

LaVancher sent an undercover Baldwin City, Kan., police officer child pornography during a sexually explicit chat, authorities say. The police officer was posing as a 30-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter.

Cayuga County Sheriff deputies worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Baldwin City Police Department and the New York State Police Computer Crime Unit during a two-month investigation.

On Jan. 15, FBI agents and sheriff's deputies searched LaVancher's home. LaVancher was taken into custody on federal charges related to distributing and possessing child pornography.

LaVancher remains incarcerated.

Bonsant was arrested Wednesday on charges of possessing child pornography on a laptop computer. He too faces federal charges.

The Auburn man also faces three charges of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon for three unregistered handguns in his home. He was arraigned on those charges in Auburn City Court.

Bonsant appeared in federal court and was released. He could have a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 for the charge.

LaVancher faces five to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 for allegedly distributing the material, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

If found guilty, both men would have to register as sex offenders.

The two men established a partnership in June 2002 called Lasant Enterprise, 3289 Walker Road, The Citizen's records show.