San Antonio media reported last week that Gerald Mark Thomas, 47, who at one time worked as a teacher and coach at Karnes City Junior High School, is going to prison for seven years after being convicted in federal court of possession of child pornography.

School district officials said Thomas worked for Karnes City ISD between August 12, 2002 and May 31, 2006. Thomas was living in Poth when he was charged with possession of child pornography in August of 2006.

The indictment alleged that between 1999 and 2004, Thomas regularly accessed Internet Web sites whose primary focus was the distribution of child pornography. After an inspection of files in a computer that was at Thomas’ home, agents found images of child pornography, the indictment said.

Prosecutors said Thomas had more than 650 images of child pornography on his computer. They said he also distributed those images.

Thomas’ attorney said his client is sorry for what he did.

"He’s always been very remorseful and contrite about the situation. His family circumstances are such that it’s very difficult to deal with a situation like this," said Bernard Campion, Thomas’ attorney.

Thomas is scheduled to report to prison in January.