Ex-band director gets prison for porn

A federal judge has sentenced the former band director at South Pittsburg High School to 16 years in prison on child pornography charges.

Roy Walsh pleaded guilty in April 2010 to viewing and disseminating child pornography on his home computer in 2008, according to court documents. He lost his job at the school after federal agents seized his computer on Oct. 10, 2008.

Agents got a tip from an informant in Connecticut who said Walsh had sent the pornographic images to that person.

The informant was not named in court documents.

On Monday, federal Judge Harry "Sandy" Mattice commented briefly on the images seized.

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"The amount of images are unbelievable," he said during the sentencing hearing. "This is probably the most number of images the court has seen in one instance."

Walsh's attorney, Gary L. Poston, told the judge his client was "a sad, lonely man sitting alone in his bedroom."

Before his sentencing, Walsh apologized profusely for his behavior.

"I cannot begin to put into words the remorse I feel," he said. "If I could I would apologize to each and every one that I hurt."

According to his testimony, Walsh served as band director for nearly six years at South Pittsburg High.

He lived in Jasper, Tenn., at the time of his arrest.

Contact staff writer Todd South at tsouth@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347.

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