Illinois Man Gets Three Year Sentence For Child Porn

A 28-year-old Mason City man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to having child pornography on his cellphone.

The Pekin Daily Times reports that Richard D. Surratt Jr. was sentenced Thursday in Mason County court.

He pleaded guilty in April to five counts of possessing child pornography on his cell phone.

Surratt's wife turned in his cell phone to police after discovering five photos depicting nude girls who were under age 13.

Mason County State's Attorney Roger Thomson says Surratt is not believed to have helped take the photos. But he says the prison term was needed because those who view pornography are part of the reason people produce it.

Surratt's attorney says he will file a motion to have the sentence reconsidered.