A former staff attorney for Gov. Kay Ivey’s office has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges.

Chase Tristian Espy, 36, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, according to a joint announcement Tuesday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix Rivera-Esparra.

Espy will be sentenced on Jan. 24. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison.

Authorities said the U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek the high-end of the sentencing guideline range for Espy.

According to the plea agreement, Espy engaged in online chats with undercover law enforcement whom Espy believed to be a 15-year-old girl. The communication took place March 2021 to August 2021.

Espy was arrested on state charges in August 2021.

He was then immediately fired from Ivey’s staff, where he had served as a deputy general counsel in the Office of Governor.

He was later indicated on federal charges.

Once Espy was arrested, his cell phone was seized, and a search warrant was obtained. From that search, approximately 69 videos and four images of child sexual abuse material were found.

“The hard work of the agents involved in this case reflect how local, state, and federal law enforcement are committed to protecting children from predators,” Escalona said. “Possessing child pornography is not a ‘victimless’ crime. Each time images of the innocent are shared or viewed, the child is re-victimized.”

The FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, the Homewood Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency took part in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White and Jonathan Cross are prosecuting the case

“The FBI is committed to protecting our children from sexual abuse and exploitation, and we will continue to work with our partners to bring to justice those who would prey on our most vulnerable,” Rivera said.