Former Columbia science professor Kevin Fuller was sentenced to 72 months of incarceration after being convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography. He possessed over 100 images of sexually explicit acts being performed on prepubescent children, many of them infants.

The sentence was handed down by Judge Ruben Castillo on Feb. 9 at the Everett McKinley Dirksen Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn St.

Castillo opted to give Fuller eight weeks to surrender himself and begin his sentence. His defense attorney, Keith Scherer, asked that Fuller serve his time in a rehabilitation institute in Florida to remain close to his family, who resides in Georgia.

Fuller was ordered to remain in the custody of his father until he surrenders himself at some point in the next eight weeks. The sentencing hearing was initially scheduled for Jan. 11 but was rescheduled.

Where Fuller will serve his time is still undecided. Castillo opted to leave the decision to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Before giving his sentence, the judge went over a list of aspects which worked both in favor of and against Fuller.

“Fortunately for you, you’ve been well represented,” Castillo said before addressing Fuller’s age, 43, as a worry. “The one thing that gives me concern about your age is your capacity to re-offend.”

Scherer did not try to defend the act of possessing or distributing child pornography, but he instead asked for understanding.

“I’m the last attorney in this town who’s going to stand in front of a judge and say ‘This isn’t a big deal,’” Scherer said to the court.

Members of Fuller’s family from Georgia were present for the court proceeding to show support. His mother, Bobbie Fuller, took the witness stand and told the court how she knew her son was sexually abused as a child.

“[Fuller] came to me at age six and told me he’d been sexually abused,” his mother said. “I found out it started around age three.”

The full story of Fuller’s sentencing hearing will be in the Feb. 14 issue of The Chronicle.