HOUGHTON — A Hancock man was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison on child pornography charges in Houghton County Circuit Court Wednesday.

Justin Covert, 32, was arrested in August after an investigation by the Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The initial tip came through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Police seized multiple Internet-capable devices and other evidence during a search of Covert’s home.

Covert had been scheduled to stand trial earlier this month before accepting a plea bargain.

Covert was sentenced on four counts, all of which carry a minimum sentence of five years, seven months.

The most serious charge, child sexually abusive activity – aggravated, carries a maximum sentence of 25 years. Covert was also sentenced on two counts of using a computer to commit a crime, one with a 20-year maximum and one with a 10-year maximum. The computer crime is punishable by up to 20 years in prison when the underlying felony has a maximum sentence of 20 years or more.

Covert’s final count was child sexually abusive material-aggravated possession, which has a maximum sentence of 10 years.