Judge sentences man in Miss. child porn snake case

GULFPORT, Miss. – A federal judge in Mississippi has sentenced a man to 30 years in prison on charges of coercing an underage girl to pose with poisonous snakes for child pornography.

John Joseph Maillet pleaded guilty in September to one count of production of child pornography. He was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden.

Maillet, of Port Jervis, N.Y., was living in Carriere, Miss., where the alleged crime took place. He was arrested in August.

Prosecutors say the girl was 15 when Maillet first enticed her in April 2007 to pose for pictures that included his pet snakes.