A judge sentenced former University of Nebraska-Lincoln employee David R. Briggs Monday to five years probation for possessing child pornography.

Lancaster County District Judge Bernard J. McGinn, in denying a prosecutor's request to order incarceration, noted Briggs' lack of a criminal record, including assaults against children. "There is no evidence Mr. Briggs sexually assaulted children," McGinn said.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon told McGinn Briggs, 45, was not suitable for probation.

"There's really no cure for this illness," Condon said.

Briggs' attorney, Chad Wythers of Lincoln, urged McGinn to sentence his client to intensive probation. He said there was no evidence Briggs would do anything illegal while on probation.

In addition, Wythers said, a psychologist treating Briggs said incarceration would only compound his mental health issues. Wythers said Briggs can control his sexual impulses with exercise, by avoiding alcohol and developing "coping skills."

Wythers told McGinn Briggs fully appreciated the seriousness of his crime. The attorney said Briggs has lost his career, his family and his friends.

Briggs, in a statement just prior to sentencing, said his life has been upended.

"I've really succeeded in messing up my life at this point," he said. "I don't ever want to be back in front of a judge again."

Briggs pleaded guilty in March to three counts of possessing of child pornography, a fourth-class felony. He had been charged with generation of child pornography, a class three felony, but in a plea deal got the count amended down.

The charges stemmed from images found on Briggs' computer at a UNL accounting office.

Briggs later lost his job at the university. A father of four, he is now divorced.

Among the conditions to his probation, Briggs must avoid computers with internet access, continue his therapy and complete any other therapy or evaluations ordered by his probation officer.

The judge sentenced Briggs to five years probation on all three counts, but the sentences are concurrent to each other.

Reach Butch Mabin at 473-7234 or at bmabin@journalstar.com.