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A Marshall County man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday after being convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography.

Marshall Circuit Judge Dennis Foust sentenced Michael Dumas, 53, of Benton, to the maximum of 20 years in prison. A Marshall County jury convicted Dumas on April 30 on four counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor and three counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor. The jury recommended a 35-year prison sentence; however, under Kentucky law, Class D felonies are capped at a maximum of 20 years.

An investigation by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department led to the arrest of Dumas on April 25, 2007. Dumas’ former employer contacted the sheriff’s department after discovering an image of a young girl in lingerie on Dumas’ work cell phone. Dumas admitted to downloading more than 250,000 child pornographic images during March 2007. Many of the images depicted graphic sexual acts against children of all ages, including infants.

The United States Secret Service completed the forensic examination of multiple computers and burned compact discs seized from Dumas’ home after the execution of a search warrant. Attorney General Jack Conway’s Office of Special Prosecutions handled the prosecution of this case.

Dumas will be required to register as a sex offender for 20 years following his release from prison and must submit DNA samples to the Department of Corrections.