NE Iowa Man Pleads to Child Porn Charge

A Northeast Iowa man now faces up to 20 years in prison on child pornography charges.

50 year old Paul LeClere of Hopkinton was scheduled to go to trial this week in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids, but instead entered a plea deal with prosecutors.

LeClere was originally charged with several counts of receipt and possession of child pornography. However, he has pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child porn involving a minor under 12 years old. Five other counts will be dropped when LeClere is sentenced.

LeClere is acccused of looking at child pornography over the internet, for the past 15 years. In 2013, investigators found images on LeClere's computer; during a search of his home, they found over 300 images and 50 videos of child porn on computer hard drives and discs. He was arrested in December of last year.

LeClere will be sentenced at a later date.

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