Utah Supreme Court reverses child porn convictions over ‘scrapbook’

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (KSTU) -- A West Valley City middle school teacher has been sentenced to prison on Tuesday by a Salt Lake County Third District Court judge.

59-year-old Michael Scott Hatfield was charged and plead no contest to four federal counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and three class A misdemeanors of accessing pornographic material on school property.

He was sentenced one to 15 years in prison for each of the four federal charges, but they will run concurrently. The judge gave him credit for his time already served, 370 days for the three misdemeanor counts.

Before the sentencing, Hatfield addressed the court.

“I assume full responsibility and I am deeply sorry and remorseful for the suffering that I have caused to so many,” said Hatfield.

Hatfield's defense attorney Heather Chestnut said while incarcerated Hatfield was diagnosed on the autism spectrum with Asperger's syndrome. She said it explains why he resorted to sexual activity for releasing social anxiety. Chestnut explained those with Asperger's typically turn to sex, drugs or alcohol for social anxiety.