A Murphysboro man was sentenced in Jackson County Court Friday to 32 years in state prison for child porn and predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Michael Carr says 67-year-old Paul Blaney entered a guilty plea on both charges on March 1 of this year. A sentencing hearing was held Friday where evidence was presented to the court.

Blaney will have to serve 24 years in prison for predatory criminal sexual abuse of a child, which he will have to serve 85 percent of this sentenced and then serve a period of mandatory supervised release of three years to natural life. He will also have to serve eight years for production of child pornography and then serve three years of mandatory supervised release for this charge. Both sentenced will run consecutively.

Murphysboro Police began to investigate Blaney last November for possible inappropriate relationships with a child. Police learned during 2011, Blaney engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child under the age of 13.

Police executed a search warrant at Blaney’s home in Murphysboro. They found a camera containing an SD card that had a number or photos and videos showing Blaney engaged in sexual acts with a child victim.