West Pottsgrove Man Sentenced to Probation, Community Service for Child Porn

He admitted that he both owned and shared child pornography. He was sentenced to five years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

According to a report in the Pottstown Mercury, Christopher Michael Morgan, 22, of the 300 block of East Vine Street, was sentenced on Thursday after entering a guilty plea for the possession and sharing of child porn. The hearing stemmed from an October 2011 search which yielded "two counts" of possession.

Judge Thomas C. Branca said that Morgan would also have to turn over his computer to authorities and submit to a psychological evaluation, according to the report. He'll also be registered under the supervision of Pennsylvania Megan's Law, which will require a lifetime commitment to registering his address with both the police and the local community to admit he is a "sexually violent predator."

"It seems clear to me that the criteria were met in every regard," Branca told Morgan according to the Mercury's report. The judge's assessment agreed with that of the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Assessment Board, which evaluated Morgan prior to sentencing.

Morgan was cited as part of an FBI investigation that sought those that possessed and shared child pornography. In their search, they found a computer, known to only be used by Morgan, contained 68 photos and one video containing those under age 18 depicting "sexual conduct and various stages of undress."

The Pennsylvania State Police and FBI worked together to obtain a search warrant and bring Morgan in for his crime.

According to court papers, Morgan said that he tries not to look at child porn, "but he has to."

For the full story on the sentencing hearing, visit the Mercury's link here.

Morgan is one of 10 registered offenders in Lower Pottsgrove Township. To view the full list, click on the Megan's Law website.