JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 32-year-old Mt. Vernon man pleaded guilty last week in Jefferson County to half of the felony counts involving child pornography against him.

Philip Borcherding was facing 10 Class X felony counts of possessing child pornography depicting a victim under the age of 13. He pleaded guilty last week to counts four through eight in exchange for the other five counts being dismissed.

Judge Michael Molt sentenced Borcherding to three years on each count to be served consecutively, resulting in a 15-year sentence.

He was given credit for time served in the Jefferson County Jail. He’d remained in custody from the time of his arrest in August 2020 until he was released on a signature bond in December 2020. Following his plea agreement last week he was ordered to turn himself in immediately to the Jefferson County Jail to be processed for transport to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Borcherding was arrested last year after detectives had received information regarding suspected child pornography activity in the county. An investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Borcherding’s home and his subsequent arrest.