By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS – A Norco man arrested in March for allegedly downloading and possessing images of child pornography pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

Jason Long, 35, gave his plea before U.S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan. Long was named in a two-count indictment on March 1 that said he received and possessed digital images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

According to court documents, Long used his computer to access the Internet and then used peer-to-peer file sharing programs to download approximately 232 pictures and 169 videos of children victimized. Evidence indicated Long searched for images depicting minors, some as young as 6, engaged in specific types of conduct to download, according to authorities.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 1 at 9 a.m. Long faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.  He also may be required to register as a sex offender.

Special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The program marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and assists in identifying and rescuing victims.