Michael Howie

SOUTH BEND — A former law enforcement officer from Michigan City was sentenced Wednesday to 54 years in prison, followed by life on supervised release, for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Neil Lachmund, 46, pleaded guilty in May to sexual exploitation of children, production of child pornography and production and transportation of obscene material.

According to his plea agreement, part of which is redacted, Lachmund photographed and video recorded child sexual abuse material.

The illegal activity took place over a 10-year period between September 2015 and last March, he admitted, and involved three victims.

Forensic analysis of his electronic devices revealed that Lachmund owned tens of thousands of images and videos in addition to the material h

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