Former ABC News reporter James Gordon Meek has been sentenced to six years in prison for trading child pornography content, according to Virginia federal judge Claude Hilton. This sentence is just one year more than the minimum term that Meek, 54, was seeking. The Virginia US Attorney's Office had requested a much heavier penalty of between 12 1/2 years and 15 years, which is what federal guidelines recommended for Meek. However, the judge decided on a lesser sentence, still far below the 20-year maximum that Meek faced.

Meek, who previously served as a national security reporter, admitted in July to transporting and possessing child sexual abuse materials. Prosecutors argued that Meek actively sought out individuals online for the purpose of sharing and expanding his collection of child pornography for his sexual gratification. They described how Meek sent and received disturbing videos and pictures of infants, toddlers, and prepubescent children engaged in sadistic and masochistic abuse. They also revealed that Meek had joined a sick chat group called "C-ks, C-ts, and Kids" and had even posed as a minor himself to solicit lewd images from underage individuals.

Meek's lawyer, Eugene Gorokhov, claimed that his client was a victim of overzealous prosecution and thanked the judge for recognizing this. Gorokhov argued that the government had torn down Meek's character completely and said that the sentence represented a rejection of the negative image the government had painted of his client. He also stated that Meek had taken total responsibility for his actions and had never previously been charged with another crime.

During the sentencing hearing, Gorokhov emphasized that Meek was a doting father and had a history of good deeds. He acknowledged that Meek's conduct was completely at odds with his personal values but argued that his years covering war had taken a toll on his mental health, which helped explain his behavior. Gorokhov said that while this was not an excuse, it provided some context for understanding Meek's actions.

Meek resigned from ABC News abruptly after his home was raided by federal agents in April 2022. The agents seized his electronics, leading to the discovery of child pornography materials. In addition to his work in journalism, Meek had also served as a senior counterterrorism adviser and investigator for the US House Committee on Homeland Security since 2011.

Federal prosecutors had originally recommended a sentence of between 12 1/2 years and 15 years for Meek, given the severity of his crimes. However, the judge decided on a six-year sentence, taking into account Meek's acceptance of responsibility and lack of prior criminal charges. The investigation into Meek began after the FBI received a tip regarding videos involving the sexual abuse of children associated with him. During the search of his home, agents found dozens of child pornography images that Meek had been collecting since 2014.

ABC News has not yet provided a comment on the sentencing.