Former University of Virginia Associate Dean Changes Plea to Guilty in Child Porn Case

Michael G. Morris, a former associate dean at the University of Virginia, pleaded guilty Monday to distributing child pornography

A former associate dean at the University of Virginia pleaded guilty in a child pornography case Monday.

Michael G. Morris was accused of browsing and sending child porn over the Internet. He had pleaded not guilty to federal charges back in December, but changed that plea in Charlottesville, Va., Monday.

Morris, 50, pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing and one count of possessing child pornography, reported NBC29.com.

Federal prosecutors said he visited a child porn sharing site nearly 200 times in less than a year.

Morris was also accused of sharing pornographic videos on the site. FBI agents said they downloaded more than 17 child pornography videos directly from Morris' Internet address, the Daily Progress reported.

According to court documents, Morris paid for at least one session on the site by using the PayPal account connected to his campus email address.

A federal grand jury indicted Morris in November on two counts of distributing or receiving child porn and one count of possessing child porn involving a minor under the age of 12.

Morris will be sentenced July 14 in federal court, reported NBC29.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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