TOPEKA – An Olathe man from was sentenced today to four years in federal prison for possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. He also was ordered to pay a $12,500 fine.

James Christmas, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. In his plea, he admitted he possessed more than 12,000 images and 26 videos of child pornography on computer media.

The investigation began in September 2010 when his estranged wife told the Olathe Police Department that she found child pornography on computer media belonging to Christmas. Investigators obtained a search warrant and found the images. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified more than 1,300 images of known child victims living outside of Kansas in Christmas’ collection.

Grissom commended the Olathe Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin for their work on the case.