Man faces life in prison in child pornography case

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 44-year-old man pleaded guilty Wednesday to using a minor child to produce images depicting child pornography.

Richard Cloonan is a registered sex offender. In Charlotte County, he was convicted in 1991 of two counts of attempted sexual battery on a child less than 12 years old.

Cloonan faces a mandatory life sentence in prison.

Cloonan reportedly sent multiple images of an infant engaged in sexually explicit conduct to an undercover agent in March, according to the Department of Justice. The investigation revealed that the Internet Protocol address belonged to Cloonan.

FBI agents and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office personnel arrested Cloonan on March 12.

Investigations say they found at least 85 images of child pornography on his phone.

WJAX