Fugitive linked to child pornography

Puyallup police said that an Oregon fugitive had child pornography in his possession after they arrested him in an identity-theft case.

He has not been charged with anything related to child abuse or pornography.

Andrew Kowalczyk, 33, was charged with several counts of identity theft and forgery and is being held in Pierce County Jail, according to the police.

Puyallup police arrested Kowalczyk on Dec. 27 at Northwest Motor Inn in Puyallup. Police said he had multiple identifications and equipment to produce false IDs, including a camera and a computer.

On Friday, forensics specialists found that some of the images on the camera and computer depicted "hard-core child pornography," said Lorri Ericson, spokeswoman for the Puyallup Police Department.

Police said two girls are in the images. They could be twins or sisters between the ages of 5 and 8.

More children could be involved in the pornography but investigators are unsure because the photographs span two years and it is difficult to tell whether they are the same or different children, Ericson said.

The department also released images on Saturday and Sunday of five women in Kowalczyk's files, who police say were not involved in the pornography. Police hope these women can provide more information on Kowalczyk and the children.

On Sunday, police received calls that helped them identify two of the women, and one of them will be talking to the police.

Three women were still unidentified Sunday afternoon.

Kowalczyk has been charged in Pierce County with three counts of identity theft, four counts of forgery, two counts of possession of fictitious identity and single counts of possession of a personal-identification device.

In 1995, he was charged with kidnapping and assault in Multnomah Circuit Court and convicted of third-degree assault. He was sentenced to 36 months of probation.

Ericson said Sunday she did not know what Kowalczyk was wanted for in Oregon. People with information about the case should call 253-841-5421, she said.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com