MONTGOMERY — Calling it an “abhorrent crime,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said a Lauderdale County man pleaded guilty on multiple counts of possession of child pornography.

Kevin Prather, 52, of Rogersville, pleaded guilty in Lauderdale County Circuit Court to five counts of possession of obscene material depicting a person under the age of 17, according to news release from Marshall’s office.

Prather was sentenced to 10 years, which was split for him to serve one year in prison followed by a term of three years of supervised probation. Upon his release, he will be required to register as a sex offender and abide by all requirements of Alabama’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

“Possession of child pornography inflicts never-ending harm, perpetually exploiting the victims every time the images are viewed and disseminated,” said Marshall. “This abhorrent crime not only damages our society but inflicts unimaginable suffering upon the most vulnerable victims — children.

“It is important that we do all we can to fight against child exploitation and send a message to those depraved predators that they will be held to account and punished to the fullest extent of the law for their crimes.”

Attorney General Marshall commended his Criminal Trials Division for its successful prosecution of this case, noting in particular Assistant Attorneys General Jasmyne Crimiel and Jillian Jordan Evans, as well as the Special Agents of his Investigations Division and the Cybercrime Unit.