A Picayune man pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in U.S. Southern District Court and was sentenced last week.

Elza Eugene Harter, 52, of Picayune was indicted in June by a grand jury for three separate counts of receipt, distribution and possession of child pornography, court documents state.

A plea bargain was reached in September wherein Harter pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, court documents state.

Harter was sentenced under Chief District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. on Dec. 22 to eight years in prison and fined $10,000.

According to court documents, Harter was represented by K.C. Hightower. The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Andrea C. Jones.

Harter also forfeited a laptop and hard drive listed in the indictment, which contained one or more files of child pornography, court documents state.