A former Muddy Creek Township man now living in Virginia was sentenced to prison Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.

Cecil James Shuck, 44, of Alexandria was sentenced to serve 22 to 44 months in state prison after pleading to a consolidated felony charge of child pornography filed by state police last year after numerous images of young girls in suggestive poses were found a portable computer data storage device he left behind after breaking up with his former partner.

In addition, Shuck was found to be a tier 1 sexual offender under Megan’s Law and ordered to report to state police for the next 15 years.

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Timothy McCune said what Shuck did is not a victim-less crime.

“Continued publication of these crimes creates a market for kids,” McCune said.

Police filed 36 child pornography charges against Shuck in March last year after his former partner was cleaning up items he left behind and found a USB flash drive in a computer desk drawer in her home, according to court documents.

While the woman was away, another man, who is a roommate of hers, looked on the flash drive and later told the woman that it contained explicit images. The woman told police she looked at the drive and found multiple folders with female names on it.

Police said they searched the desk and seized the USB drive as well as a laptop. A digital forensic examiner discovered that the USB contained 36 totally nude images of children and 824 images classified as “prepubescent modeling,” police said.

At Monday’s sentencing, assistant district attorney Ben Simon said police also seized a customized sex doll from Shuck.

He called for a prison sentenced of 22 to 44 months, which is in the standard sentencing range, saying Shuck’s actions help promote and perpetuate child exploitation.

The case is “a perfect example of why children are kidnapped worldwide,” Simon said.

Shuck told the court that he accepts responsibility for the charges. He said he had been using drugs and alcohol since his mid 20s, but he has overcame his drug dependency and stopped drinking. He said he is taking medication for mental health issues.

“I fully regret my actions you honor, and I’m asking for the mercy of the court,” Shuck said.

Assistant public defender Kimberly Hudak asked for a sentence of house arrest under county supervision, saying Shuck has no criminal record other than an out-of-state charge similar to disorderly conduct in 2009 and he was not found to be a sexually violent predator.

She said he has received mental health treatment for depression and anxiety, and works at a steel plant in Fairfax, Va.

McCune said all the charges were consolidated into one charge for sentencing.

Shuck pleaded guilty in a straight plea with a plea agreement with prosecutors.