Former Portsmouth officer pleads guilty to having child porn

NORFOLK

A former Portsmouth police officer faces a minimum of five years in prison after pleading guilty this morning to federal charges of possessing child pornography.

Paul Alonzo Ewing, 38, admitted having images of child pornography on his home computer when he was arrested last fall on state charges of taking indecent liberties with a teenage girl.

Prosecutors said they won’t pursue the state case now that Ewing has pleaded guilty to three federal felonies.

Ewing, who had been free on bond, was taken to jail by U.S. marshals after his plea. He’s scheduled for sentencing Sept. 25. He served on the Portsmouth police force for about four years until his arrest last fall.