Former teacher sentenced to prison in child porn case

WHEATON, Ill. (AP) - A former suburban Chicago elementary school teacher who pleaded guilty to felony child pornography charges has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison.

In a news release, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin says that 29-year-old Andrew Clarke was sentenced on Friday and immediately taken into custody.

Officials with the Illinois Children's Advocacy Centers and investigators from the Elmhurst and Glendale Heights police departments identified a computer in DuPage County that was downloading files containing child pornography. That investigation led to Clarke, who not only possessed images containing child pornography but had videotaped himself masturbating at a school where he worked.

Clarke must serve half his sentence before he's eligible for parole and upon his release from prison he will be required to register as a sex offender.