PEACH COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) — A Byron man was convicted on multiple counts of child sexual exploitation for possessing 18 different "disturbing" child pornography videos in 2018.

According to the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, in March 2018, Benjamin Frank Smith was arrested after the Georgia Internet Crime Against Children Task Force identified him as a person of interest.

Law enforcement searched his home after discovering that he had used a "peer-to-peer" file-sharing website to distribute child pornography with other offenders.

In the search, they found Smith had two devices with 18 different videos and over nine hours of illegal material that depicted multiple prepubescent male and female child victims, with some appearing to be elementary school-aged.

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The Macon D.A.'s Office says that while the defendant admitted the devices belonged to him, throughout his trial, he argued there was no evidence to prove he knew the child pornography was on these devices.

After deliberating for four hours, a Peach County jury found Smith guilty of 18 counts of child sexual exploitation, and he faces a maximum sentence of 360 years in prison.

"This conviction represents our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community," said Macon District Attorney Anita Howard in a statement. "The exploitation of children is among the most heinous crimes we prosecute, and this verdict sends a clear message that those who possess and distribute child pornography will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

This case was prosecuted with assistance from experts at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Houston and Forsyth County Sheriff's Offices.

Stick with WGXA as we learn more and update this story.