Former cop gets 5 year sentence in child porn case - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

A former Ocean Springs police officer is going to jail. Earlier this year, Steve Futral pleaded guilty to five counts of child exploitation for downloading child pornography onto his personal and work computers. Friday, he was in court to learn his fate.

Steve Futral came into Judge Dale Harkey's courtroom showing little emotion. That changed quickly when the judge asked if he had anything to say before handing down the sentence.  He almost broke down. 

"The only thing I'd like to say, first to the city and people of Ocean Springs, I am deeply sorry for letting you down. Second, to my family, I am so sorry," Futral told the judge. 

Judge Harkey said he's worried about the increase in child pornography cases and it's effect on society, before sentencing Futral to five years in prison. 

"I can't help but think it destroys humanity and individuals who engages in voyeurism," Judge Harkey said. 

District Attorney Tony Lawrence expressed concern for victims of this type of crime.  

"Child pornography crime is not a victimless crime. There's some child that was victimized," Lawrence said. "There is a recording of a child being victimized for sexual perversion and we can't have that in our society. It is sad when a law enforcement officer was the defendant in this case but he should be held accountable like everyone else." 

Futral's attorney, Calvin Taylor, feels the sentence was fair under the circumstances.  

"Steve admitted that he possessed the images and I think it's an appropriate sentence and he feels it was an appropriate sentence," Taylor said.  "He's already served a little over a year in jail so he'll serve about four more years but I think that justice was served." 

In addition to the prison time, Futral was fined $12,500, and will also have to register as a sex offender once he is released.

Copyright 2012 WLOX. All rights reserved.