A Helena man who tried to develop child pornography at a Hoover pharmacy will spend 17 years and six months in prison.

U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon sentenced David Robert Shelton last Wednesday for one count of possessing child pornography and 12 counts of receiving it.

Hoover police were led to Shelton, 43, in October 2006 after a pharmacy employee found pornographic images of a young girl on film left for processing.

A later FBI investigation showed Shelton possessed child porn dating back to November 2003.

&8220;We want to thank the employee of our local business for bringing this to our attention,&8221; said Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis. &8220;We know these are not victimless crimes, and we are happy to see that this predator will be in the penitentiary for over 17 years.&8221;

Shelton pled guilty to the charges in January. He has been in the Shelby County Jail since his arrest.

&8220;Child pornography is not protected speech &8212; it&8217;s child abuse,&8221; said FBI agent Carmen Adams, in a release. &8220;Distribution and receipt of child pornography perpetuates the abuse and deserves punishment.&8221;