Richard Ivan Pervo, a former University professor, pleaded guilty Wednesday to posessing more than 4,200 images depicting children in sexual acts.

He received eight years probation and one year in a state workhouse for one count of distribution and five counts of posession of child pornography.

Pervo, 59, taught courses in the New Testament until mid-February. In an agreement with the Board of Regents, he resigned as chairman of the department of
classical and Near Eastern studies and agreed to sever all ties with the University. In accordance with his sentence, he must now write a letter of apology to the University.

“I do want to express I have always been opposed to any exposure of minors to sexual acts. I deeply regret any involvement I had to
perpetuate that,” Pervo said at the hearing.

Other elements of Pervo’s sentence were to continue
counseling and to have no unsupervised contact with females under age 18. The felony convictions also mean Pervo must
register as a sex offender.

He must also now allow law enforcement agents access to his personal computer for surprise inspections.

The sentence allows Pervo work and treatment release. He could face a prison sentence if he does not satisfy the terms of his eight-year probation.