LEWISTON — A local man pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to receiving child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank.

Nicholas T. Richard, 39, of Lewiston used the internet and peer-to-peer file-sharing software to download child pornography images in February at the Auburn Public Library, according to court records. 

He downloaded the images using his laptop through the library’s wireless connection, according to Frank.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Richard’s laptop and other electronic devices and found thousands of images and videos depicting child pornography and child erotica.

Richard faces between 15 and 40 years in prison based on a prior federal child pornography conviction. According to court records, he was charged with dissemination of sexually explicit materials, and 12 counts of possession of sexually explicit materials on June 24, 2004. 

He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release ranging from five years to life.

Richard will be sentenced after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Auburn Police Department.