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A Fort Washington man, who was charged with producing child pornography after illicit photos were found in his work desk when he was terminated from his job, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

In July, Ernesto Cacanindin, 46, pleaded guilty to producing child pornography of a girl who was between 12 and 16 at the time the photos were taken.

U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Cacanindin to 15 years in prison followed by supervised release.

According to Cacanindin's plea agreement, photos of the girl were found in his former office by coworkers who were cleaning out his desk after he was terminated from his job in a law firm in Washington, D.C. Cacanindin's attorney, Louis Martucci, said his client had worked at Jones Day for 15 years and was working in the firm's audit department.

Employees discovered an envelope that contained 20 Polaroid pictures that showed the girl's genitalia, including pictures that showed Cacanindin performing oral sex on the victim. The photos were taken five to six years ago while Cacanindin was living in Oxon Hill and had "supervisory authority" over the girl, according to the plea agreement.

Cacanindin was also charged with child abuse in Prince George's County Circuit Court, but as part of his plea agreement is expected to receive a sentence Friday that will run concurrent with the 15-year sentence from this offense, Martucci said.

Martucci, who is based in Upper Marlboro, said 15 years in prison was the minimum sentence Cacanindin could receive under federal sentencing guidelines.

"The whole episode has wreaked havoc on his family," Martucci said. "His family still loves him and is going through this with him."