LINCOLN, Neb. -- A man from Lincoln was sentenced to 14 years in prison for a child pornography conviction.

U.S. Attorney Steven Russell said 67-year-old John Burton, of Lincoln, was sentenced in Lincoln on Friday. He was convicted for possession of child pornography. Burton will serve 14 years in prison with a 10 term of supervised release after. There is no parole in the federal system. Burton has to pay $21,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) got a tip from a foreign law enforcement agency that an IP address from the U.S. had used a couple of child porn websites on The Onion Router (TOR) network. The tip went back to Burton’s home in Lincoln.

Officials said the FBI used a search warrant at Burton’s home on Nov. 17, 2020. Multiple electronic devices were taken from the home and examined by the FBI. Devices from Burton’s bedroom, basement, and a hard drive found in the garage all had files of child porn. In total, more than 200 videos, and more than 1,800 images of child porn were found. Pictures of the defendant, a copy of his driver’s license, and his resume were also found on some of those same devices.

Authorities said Burton was interviewed by an FBI agent and he said he used a program that is made to use the TOR network, and is supposed to avoid leaving evidence on the computer of having used the TOR network. The defendant said he used that program to get into the TOR network at least 100 times between Feb. 14, 2018, and Nov. 17, 2020.

According to court documents, Burton was previously convicted in Missouri of having sexually assaulted a child who was less than 14-years-old. He was sentenced to prison for that offense and was in custody from Feb. 15, 2007, to Feb. 14, 2018. When the search warrant was used this time, Burton was on parole for that offense.

Officials said Burton lived with his then 89-year-old father. His father died on March 5, 2021, after the search warrant was used, and before Burton’s trial. At trial, Burton argued his dead father was the person who was responsible for having downloaded all the child porn. At Friday's sentencing hearing, the judge told Burton, “The jury did not believe you, and neither do I.”

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department.