A former Boy Scout leader was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing dozens of images of child porn.
Gary Joseph Morano, 67, surrendered before Broward Circuit Judge Jeffrey Levenson Monday after pleading guilty to 100 counts of possession of child pornography, Morano’s lawyer, Alex Arreaza, said.
Morano will serve four years in jail and 12 years probation as a registered sex offender once he is released.
Arreaza said though he was “confident” he could prove Morano’s innocence, if he lost the trial, Morano could face 112 years in prison.
“The risk was just too much,” Arreaza told NBC 6. “He would have died in jail.”
As part of the plea deal, Morano pleaded guilty last month and had 30 days to get his affairs in order before turning himself in.
The Davie resident and father of three was an assistant scoutmaster and Boy Scout Leader for Troop 183.
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He was arrested in July 2010 after authorities found images of children between the ages of 6 and 10 conducting sexual acts with adults and in suggestive positions on Morano’s computer.
Arreaza said the images in had “absolutely nothing” to do with the boy scouts.
“It was an unfortunate situation,” Arreaza said.
