ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A former teacher convicted of possessing child pornography will not go to prison despite a plea from his ex-wife and a former friend Wednesday. John Wernly used to teach Spanish at the Albuquerque School of Excellence. In 2016, investigators found dozens of pornographic images of children under the age of 13. Under a plea deal, he faced 21 years in prison.

Related Coverage:

Wednesday he and his therapists said he has been consistently going to therapy for five years and has made great strides. They asked the judge to reward that. Judge Britt Baca-Miller then handed him a suspended sentence. He will have to register as a sex offender. The Attorney’s General’s Office which prosecuted the case says they are disappointed with the sentence.