Pastor Guilty of Violent Child Porn

DALLAS - A former Texas pastor pleaded guilty on Thursday to possessing and distributing child pornography online.

Steve Richardson, former pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Royse City, pleaded guilty to one count of transporting and shipping child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

Federal agents searched Richardson's church in September 2008 and seized a desktop computer from his office that they said contained images of child pornography.

Officials also said that Richardson admitted to trading child pornography with other Internet users and to possessing more than 600 images of child pornography, including some that were violent in nature.

Richardson faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and could also be ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release.

He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Richardson's sentencing is set for June 15.