Barry Dean Griffin, 39, former Lon Morris College golf coach, pleaded guilty Jan. 15 in the Eastern District Court of Judge John Love in Tyler to charges of possession of material involving sexual exploitation of minors. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

The announcement of Mr. Griffin's plea was made by U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory.

According to information presented in court on May 30, 2008, a federal search warrant was executed at Mr. Griffin's Jacksonville residence and a personal computer was seized. A forensic examination of the computer revealed more than 600 visual depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case was investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation. Led by United States attorneys' offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute persons who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Longview Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ann Cozby.

Attorneys for Mr. Griffin are F.R. (Buck) Files Jr. and Brett Harrison.

Mr. Griffin began coaching at Lon Morris College during the 2005-06 season.

In addition to coaching, he was a kinesiology instructor.

He began his coaching career in 1996 when he was hired as assistant women's basketball coach and graduate assistant instructor at Tarleton State University.

He was head golf coach at Weatherford College until 2000; head basketball and golf coach at Nocona High School from 2002-04; and head volleyball and basketball coach at Ranger College from 2004-05.