A Bettendorf man with Asperger's Syndrome who graduated from college with three majors and volunteered at his church now faces more than seven years behind bars on a federal child pornography conviction.

Jeremy Gatton, 35, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, by Judge John Jarvey. In a rare move, the defense and prosecution both asked Jarvey to consider a sentence less than what was recommended by the federal sentencing guidelines: 17 1/2 to 20 years.

Jarvey agreed.

The material found on Gatton's computer, Jarvey said, was "terrible" and the "behavior for which he got caught is particularly disturbing." However, Jarvey noted that Gatton's disorder, often associated with an intense focus on a subject, "might very well explain the number of images" involved in the case, which significantly raised the potential range of punishment. It also is "very rare" to see a defendant in federal court with a loving family and strong support system, Jarvey said. Gatton has no criminal record.

After serving his 90-month sentence, Gatton will be on supervision for 10 years.

Gatton came to authorities' attention after he posted a question at a Web site called misterpoll.com. Posting as "dadof3unrulygirls,"

he asked how he should sexually discipline his 8-, 10- and 12-year-old girls, officials said.

Gatton has no children, but a computer found in his bedroom contained several images of child pornography, a number of which were of victims identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

He told officials that he searched for the images, some of children as young as 4 years old, authorities said. He used the peer-to-peer file sharing software Morphius.

"I like to find things and I stumbled on it quite by accident," Gatton said after the judge asked him how it started. He also expressed deep regret and a desire to act with integrity and virtue in the future.

Gatton has struggled socially since childhood, testimony and documents revealed. He was first diagnosed with a "word retrieval" problem in first grade, then with "high-functioning" autism.

He graduated from Augustana College in 2000 with majors in geology, biology and mathematics. He also participated on the school's track team, throwing the shot put. Gatton was featured in the Quad-City Times upon his graduation.

Gatton's former pastor, his parents and a psychologist testified on his behalf. They talked of social isolation due to Gatton's trouble with communication.

"… he has lived a very lonely life," attorney Diane Zitzner said in her sentencing memo. "Outside of his family and church contacts, Jeremy does not have a social group. He finds basic social interactions extremely intimidating and difficult."