A Hurlburt Field employee faces five years in federal prison for receipt, possession and access with intent to view child pornography.
Douglas J. Plate, 53, of Navarre, also must register as a sex offender.
In December 2015, the United States Air Force determined that Plate, who worked in a facility with a top secret security clearance, was searching for pornography online at his work station and residence.
A forensic review of his work and laptop computers revealed a significant amount of accessed pornography, including sexualized images of minor females. Additionally, Plate admitted to using foreign language search terms to avoid detection.
“This case is particularly disturbing because a government employee violated the trust of the United States in one of the most heinous ways imaginable,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa.
“Thanks to our HSI special agents’ partnership with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, an individual who was jeopardizing our nation’s security and trust is now facing justice.”
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg prosecuted the case.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hurlburt Field employee gets 5 years for child porn charges