By Brandi Makuski

After five of the 10 counts of possession of child pornography against him were dismissed, a former Stevens Point man has been sentenced to just over four years in prison.

Morgan Howe, 29, was arrested last June following an investigation into online child pornography conducted by the Wisconsin Dept. of Justice. According to the criminal complaint, investigators working with the Stevens Point Police Department were able to trace Howe’s IP address to the Soo Maria Ave. home where he was staying at the time.

Howe admitted to having a problem with pornography, calling it “an addiction that went in the wrong direction”. According to the criminal complaint, he told investigators he would download pornographic files three or four times a month, and sometimes watched it in the family living room.

Howe pleaded no contest to five of the counts in March, and was sentenced by Portage Co. Circuit Court Judge Robert Shannon last week.

Howe will served 50 months in prison — with 367 days of credit for time he’d already served — followed by 50 months of extended supervision. Terms of his condition include no contact with minors or internet use without permission from his probation agent.

He must also register as a sex offender.