District Court Judge Michael A. Schipp ordered Wayne Nelson Corliss of Union City to remain in jail.
Corliss was arrested Thursday at his home and charged with producing child pornography. If convicted, Corliss faces 10 to 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Vartan said authorities had linked images of Corliss abusing at least three young Asian boys - his face clearly visible - during three trips Corliss made to Thailand between 2000 and 2002. Vartan said Corliss confessed to having sex with children during a 2002 visit.
As evidence that Corliss made the trips with the intent of producing child pornography, Vartan said that Corliss brought a children's-sized "I (heart) NY" shirt to Thailand, which appeared on one child in a series of pornographic images.
"There are those that possess child pornography to look at, and then there are those who produce and star in their own child pornography," Vartan said.
Corliss' court-appointed attorney, Chester Keller, didn't contest the prosecutors' request for no bail.
The 58-year-old Corliss is a small-time actor who worked painting faces at children's parties and used to dress up as Santa Claus.
Teri Paris, an old friend of Corliss who attended the hearing, said the charges bore no relation to the man she had worked with in entertainment for more than 30 years.
"He looked very scared in there," said Paris. "He's a marvelous person. He needs help."
Corliss was apprehended after a 48-hour international manhunt.
Police have said they discovered numerous images on several computer hard drives and that Corliss told authorities he had sex with three boys in Thailand six years ago.
