A former University of Georgia (UGA) professor who admitted to authorities that he possessed hundreds of images of child pornography was sentenced to federal prison and will have to register as a sex offender for life.
This, according to a press release that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia published this week.
U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal sentenced James Edward Monogan, III, 39, of Athens, to serve 90 months in a federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release and more than $40,000 in fines. In addition, Monogan must also register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act. Monogan previously pleaded guilty to one count possession of child pornography. There is no parole in the federal system.
“According to the plea agreement, Homeland Security Investigation’s Atlanta Office (HSI-Atlanta) received information in 2019 that KIK user ‘utbballplaya03’ had distributed child pornography to another KIK user in February 2019. KIK, formally known as Kik Messenger, is an internet based instant messaging mobile application. HSI also received a second child pornography distribution complaint for KIK user ‘texan21225053.’ Both KIK usernames belonged to Monogan,” according to the press release.
“On September 5, 2019, HSI, the GBI and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department executed a federal search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Athens, seizing several electronic devices. Monogan’s UGA office was also searched. A forensic review of the defendant’s electronics located 452 images of child pornography and eight videos depicting child sexual exploitation material on his UGA laptop, as well as an additional 119 images of child sexual exploitation material on his cell phone. Some of these images involved minors under the age of 12.”
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) investigated the case alongside the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker is prosecuting the case, according to the press release.
Last week, 10 miles away in Oconee County, a former eighth-grade teacher pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing child pornography.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
