The arrest Wednesday stemmed from a referral by the Oregon Department of Justice, which notified Texas authorities that Ward's personal e-mail account appeared to be involved in trading child pornography.
Investigators who searched Ward's home say they recovered images on his computer and in print. All of the evidence involves Ward's personal property.
He was in the Anderson County Jail charged with bail set at $1 million. If convicted, Ward faces two to 10 years in prison.
Texas prison officials on Thursday did not immediately say whether Ward was still on active duty.
