Edward Charles Schmitt, a North Laurel resident and former Laurel Police officer, pleaded guilty in federal court June 14 to receiving child pornography.
Schmitt, who will be sentenced Sept. 9, has agreed to serve seven years in federal prison.
In March, Howard County Circuit Court Judge Diane O. Leasure found Schmitt, 38, guilty of sexually abusing a minor. Schmitt awaits an August sentencing date for his state conviction, where he faces up to nine additional years in prison.
Schmitt has admitted to hiding a small camera in the closet of his live-in girlfriend's 15-year-old daughter in February 2010, masturbating in view of the camera and then leaving the camera in the closet to capture the girl dressing after a shower.
During an investigation, authorities searched Schmitt's residence and found 32 sexually explicit images and 16 videos of minors, including children under the age of 12, on two of his computers, according to federal prosecutors. In some of the videos, minors were subject to sadistic and masochistic conduct.
Police also found a media card containing a video of the 15-year-old minor undressing.
Schmitt was suspended from his job as a Laurel Police officer as soon as authorities learned of the accusations in February 2010. Laurel Police Chief Richard McLaughlin said Schmitt resigned from the department in August 2010.