A former Illinois state representative pleaded guilty Friday to possessing and trading child pornography.
Keith Farnham is a Democrat who represented the Elgin area in Springfield.
Before his arrest this year - Farnham resigned - blaming health concerns.
Today - the 67-year-old admitted to having more than 27-hundred images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on computers in his home and state office.
A prosecutor described some of those images in graphic detail in court.
Terry Ekl is Farnham’s attorney.
“He’s accepted responsibility for his conduct which we all agree is something that none of us can understand. It’s a sickness. It’s a sickness that no one standing here has, Farnham does.”
Ekl says Farnham is getting treatment.
He also says Farnham has other health issues - and needs a lung transplant.
Farnham used an oxygen tank in court.
Ekl says that’s why he’s asking the judge for the minimum sentence of five years.
Though, Farnham could get as much as 20.
Sentencing is scheduled for March.