Jackson, MS—A Clarke County Man will spend the next 12 years behind bars for possession of child porn, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.

Michael Knight, age 30 of Stonewall, appeared before Judge Lester Williamson this morning and entered an open plea (meaning the defendant refused to accept the states recommended sentence and threw himself on the mercy of the court) to the charge of possession of child porn. Judge Williamson sentenced Knight to 30 years, with 12 to serve, 18 suspended. He also received five years probation, must register as a sex offender and can have no contact with the victim. Additionally, he must pay $1,000 to the crime victim’s compensation fund and $1,000 to the cyber crime unit.

“This investigation resulted in our being able to rescue a child,” said Attorney General Jim Hood. “Our special thanks to the Department of Human Services for their assistance in this case.”

Knight has been in custody without bail since being arrested in June 2009 by investigators with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit of the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Division.