The Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper arrested Tuesday and charged in Vicksburg and in Starkville with having sex with or fondling children has been formally charged and released on bond pending trial.

Master Sgt. Dane Davenport, 45, 407 Warren St., was arrested in Jackson Tuesday morning by Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace, two deputies and officers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

The arrest was the result of a nine-count indictment handed down by a Warren County Grand Jury, empaneled Monday, that alleges four counts of sexual battery of a minor and five counts of fondling a minor starting nine years ago and as recently as last fall. He was arraigned before Judge Frank Vollor. After being booked into jail here, Warren County Sheriff’s deputies took Davenport to the Oktibbeha County Circuit Court, where he was arraigned Wednesday on one charge of fondling a minor.

The latter charge stems from a Sept. 23, 2007, visit Davenport made to Starkville, the indictment says.

After facing charges in Oktibbeha Wednesday, Davenport was released on a $15,000 bond and returned to Vicksburg, where he later the same day posted $50,000 bond, according to jail records.

The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office presented the case because of Davenport’s role as a public servant and the fact that charges were made in two jurisdictions, a spokesman for Attorney General Jim Hood has said.

Davenport has been placed on administrative leave without pay. No trial dates had been set. Four of the charges he faces carry potential life terms each and six carry 15-year maximums.