Former Laurel Officer Pleads Guilty To Receiving Child Porn

A former Laurel police officer pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography in a case in which he recorded his girlfriend's underage daughter changing clothes, according to reports.

Edward Charles Schmitt, 38, of North Laurel pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this month. Schmitt will be sentenced Sept. 9 and is facing seven years in a federal prison, according to The Laurel Leader. 

In March, Judge Diane Leasure of sexual abuse of a minor on the basis of exploitation for secretly recording his then live-in girlfriend's daughter changing her clothes in February 2010.

The abuse took place between August 2009 and February 2010 while Schmitt was serving with the Laurel Police Department. He was initially suspended from duty and then resigned.

According to the Leader, authorities found sexually explicit images and videos of minors on Schmitt's computers.