A former Oconee County teacher from Watkinsville was sentenced to federal prison Monday after he pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, according to a news release.
Ira New III, 56, was sentenced in Athens by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal to 37 months in prison and then 10 years of supervised release. New also will have to register for life as a sex offender after being released from prison, according to the news release.
“Ira New was entrusted with the care and safety of middle school students at a time when he was actively victimizing children by possessing pornography of kids in the same age group. Every time an image of child pornography is viewed, the demented business of sexually exploiting innocent children only grows stronger. New — and predators like him — will be held accountable for their crimes against children in the Middle District of Georgia,” Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said in the release. “Protecting children is among the highest priorities for our office and our law enforcement partners.”
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