HOBART, Ind. (AP) — A man whose animal cruelty conviction led state lawmakers to pass a law making sexual relations with animals a crime has been indicted on charges of downloading obscene images and videos involving sex and animals.

Michael Bessigano, 37, of Hobart was arrested Thursday by federal authorities on a charge of transportation of obscene materials involving bestiality between February and June. U.S. Magistrate Paul Cherry also ordered Bessigano to undergo psychological evaluation to determine whether he was sane at the time of the most recent alleged offense.

The Associated Press left a telephone message seeking comment from Bessigano's defense attorney, John Martin, at his office Tuesday.

Bessigano served more than four years in state prison for a 2002 animal cruelty conviction for stealing a chicken from a farmer, having sex with the animal in a motel room, killing it and discarding the carcass. Although Bessigano had a history of alleged abuse against other animals, he could not be charged with bestiality in 2002 because there was no law against it at the time.

Bessigano was also convicted of animal cruelty in 1993 for a matter involving a dog.

Bessigano was released from prison in January, and last week's federal indictment alleges that he began using an interactive computer service to download images and video of bestiality beginning in February.

Bessigano's family members have complained of harassment from neighbors in the Hobart subdivision where he lived with his brother and mother. He was arrested June 12 on an undisclosed parole violation and held for two weeks in the Lake County Jail for the safety of himself and the community, state parole officials have said. He was released June 30.

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Information from: The Times, http://nwitimes.com