NEW ORLEANS — A Reserve man faces 30 years in jail after pleading guilty this week to a child pornography charge, authorities said.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite announced Kirk P. Weber, 54, of Reserve, pleaded guilty Wednesday to distribution of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance.

According to court documents, from May 14 to Oct. 24, 2013, Weber knowingly distributed images depicting the sexual victimization of minors through the use of a popular social media site.

Weber has been in federal custody since his Feb. 7 arrest.

Weber faces a sentence of five to 30 years imprisonment, five years to life of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000.

In addition, he will have to register as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Polite said the conviction, which carries a significant mandatory minimum sentence, demonstrates his office’s commitment to protecting young children from sexual exploitation.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.