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Retired Montco Music Professor Sentenced For Sexting Minor Girl

By Jim Melwert

ABINGTON, Pa. (CBS) -- A retired Penn State-Abington music professor is headed to prison after pleading guilty to sharing explicit photos with a 16-year-old girl in Spain.

Investigators say some of the photos the professor sent of himself were taken in his office at the university.

This morning, Montgomery County Court judge Garrett Page sentenced Stephen Stace to 3-23 months in county prison, followed by five years' probation.

Stace, 66, will serve 45 days behind bars, then 45 days on house arrest.

Judge Page told the retired music professor and choir director that he was given a gift by God to teach others music, and that hearing the clang of prison doors will give him time to think of what he's done and what he needs to do to redeem himself.

Stace had previously pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession of child pornography and a misdemeanor charge of corruption of a minor.

The prosecution argued for jail time, saying Stace had been caught in a similar act by family members during the 1990s but didn't seek help until he was arrested.

He will report to prison on July 31st.

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