Wallingford man pleads guilty to child porn charge

WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WTNH)-- A Wallingford man plead guilty to a child pornography charge on Monday.

United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David B. Fein, said that Peter C. Johns, 39, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents, an undercover detective in Richmond, VA. logged into a public internet file sharing program and downloaded images and videos of child pornography from a shared directory maintained by Johns.

Johns was arrested on March 25, 2011 at his home. Police also seized his computer and related components, where forensic evidence revealed that Johns used the internet to trade thousands of child porn images and videos.

Police say Johns' child pornography collection included children under 12-years-old engaging in sexually explicit conduct and children engaging in sadistic and masochistic conduct.

Johns will be sentenced on April 4th and faces a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum term of 20 years in prison, as well as a fine up to $250,000.

Johns was released on bond under electronic monitoring since after his arrest.