A UW-Whitewater graduate who used his computer to watch a 15-year-old girl perform sex acts for him avoided jail, but he will spend up to 17 years on probation.
Karsten S. Lagally, 25, of 5110 Juneau Road, Madison, was convicted of possessing child pornography and of using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
He reached a plea agreement and was sentenced Thursday after the parties reached a joint recommendation. He will have to register as a sex offender and is to avoid contact with minors under age 16 while on probation.
Lagally also was sentenced to a year in jail but will likely serve that time with an electronic monitoring bracelet in Dane County. He can apply to have his probation terminated after 10 years.
The girl's father found out of the e-relationship when he noticed an instant message on the family's computer. The girl was from Altoona.
Police found printed and electronic pictures of child pornography when they searched Lagally's campus apartment in 2006.
Lagally apologized for his actions and said he is going through therapy for his sexual habits as well as his Asperger's disorder.
"Going through sex therapy is leading me to a more positive future," he told Judge John Race. "I have made a lot of changes in my life, and I promise you this will never happen again."
