GARDNER – A 49-year-old Winchendon man facing child pornography and firearms charges made a brief appearance Tuesday morning in Winchendon District Court.

The attorney for Douglas Duarte asked Judge Jaclyn Greenhalgh for a continuation of the case to allow more time to work on the defense. After prosecutors agreed to the request, Greenhalgh continued the case, and an unrelated assault case, until May 30. Duarte remains free on bail.

Duarte was arrested March 5 when Winchendon Police, the Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force, the Massachusetts State Police STOP Task Force, and members of the North Worcester County Drug Task Force carried out an early morning raid at his home at 356 Baldwinville State Road.

Duarte is charged with possession and dissemination of child pornography and two counts of improper storage of a firearm.

Law enforcement seized several electronic devices and hard drives during the search of Duarte’s residence. A release from the Winchendon Police Department said an initial forensic examination conducted at the scene uncovered what officials described as a “large cache” of files allegedly containing child pornography.

According to court records, the search also uncovered a loaded HK VP-9 9 mm handgun stored under the living room coffee table. Another firearm, a Ruger Super Wrangler .22 revolver, was found in a bag in the rear seat of Duarte’s truck. Duarte had a suspended License to Carry at the time of his arrest, according to the police report.

Duarte was arraigned in Winchendon District Court the afternoon of March 5 and released after posting $500 cash bail. While out on bail, Duarte is prohibited from having any contact with anyone under the age of 16 and is prohibited from possessing any firearms.

Duarte was also in court Tuesday morning on an assault and battery charge. Records indicate he was arrested March 16 for allegedly assaulting his roommate at the Baldwinville State Road address. Bail was also set at $500 cash in that case.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.