RIVERSIDE (CBS) — A Lake Elsinore photographer who allegedly molested and snapped sexually oriented pictures of children was behind bars on Friday.

Perry Anthony Pellegrini, 50, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of lewd acts with a child under 14, continuous sexual abuse of a minor and possessing child pornography.

He was being held in lieu of $150,000 bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

According to Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Patrick Chavez, Pellegrini’s wife contacted deputies Tuesday after confronting him about his alleged molestation of a child, whose identity was not released.

Chavez said Pellegrini attempted to slash his wrists, prompting a call to 911. The suspect was rushed to a hospital, where he received treatment for his wounds and a psychiatric evaluation.

When he was released, investigators immediately took him into custody, according to the sergeant.

He said a search of Pellegrini’s home computer revealed “numerous digital photographs depicting minors in several states of undress.”

The suspect, who owns Psp Photography on Riverside Drive in Lake Elsinore and a studio in Huntington Beach, may have come into contact with a number of children, according to sheriff’s officials.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call the Lake Elsinore sheriff’s station at (951) 245-3300, or at (951) 776-1099.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)