CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (AP) -- A former South Texas high school teacher has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for having child pornography at his home.

Prosecutors in Corpus Christi say 41-year-old Jesus Orta was sentenced Tuesday. Orta, who was an English as a second language teacher, pleaded guilty in November to possession of child pornography.

Orta was arrested after a September disturbance in which he claimed a relative was trespassing. Orta initially refused to let officers search his home and was later seen discarding child porn-related items in a public trash bin.

An eventual search of his apartment turned up pornography-related items on a computer.

Orta was suspended from teaching at Corpus Christi Carroll High School following his arrest. He also helped at a shelter for runaway youths.

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