ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A 65-year-old Tucumcari man has pleaded guilty to five counts of child pornography, according to authorities.
Lawrence Lucero, 65, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to three counts of receipt of a visual depiction of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and two counts of possession of matter containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Authorities said he entered the guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.
Lucero, according to an indictment, is accused of receiving and possessing child pornography between March 26, 2012, and May 2, 2012, in Rio Arriba and San Miguel Counties in New mexico.
During the time Lucero is accused of the charges, authorities said he was employed as a social worker for a company that provided healthcare staff at the Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Las Vegas and Espanola, N.M., under a contract with the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Lucero faces prison time of not less than five years and not more than 40 years on each of the three counts of receipt of child pornography. He faces a maximum of ten years in prison on each of the two child porn possession charges.
Additionally, Lucero will be required to register as a sex offender, authorities said.
Lucero's sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
