Man sentenced in child pornography case

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - A Curry County man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for possession of child pornography.

Curry County District Attorney Matthew Chandler said 48-year-old Elijah McClains arrest stems from the interception of online communications in 2006 by the FBI that indicated McClain was buying child pornography.

The FBI alerted the Curry County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies executed a search warrant on McClain's home and discovered 30,000 images of child pornography on McClains computer.

McClain pleaded guilty Thursday to 21 counts of possession of child pornography.

Chandler said District Judge Teddy L. Hartley immediately handed down the 18-year prison sentence.

When McClain finishes his prison term, he faces five to 20 years of intensive, supervised probation and must register as a sex offender.