NEW CUMBERLAND — A former Hancock County sheriff’s deputy caught with pornographic images of juveniles on his electronic devices will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life under the terms of a plea deal reached Nov. 7.

Patrick Hoder, 57, one-time K-9 handler for the sheriff’s department, agreed to plead guilty to one count of possessing material visually portraying minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. While punishments have been stiffened, the plea deal stipulated that Hoder will be sentenced under the less stringent statutes in effect when he was arrested in August 2024 — that means if Circuit Judge David Sims accepts his plea, at sentencing Hoder would face no more than two years behind bars, a maximum fine of $2,000 or both.

Hoder was taken into custody in August 2024, with authorities at the time reporting they’d found hundreds pornographic images and videos of children on one of his electronic devices. In the plea deal, however, he admits to having only 50 or less images of child pornography in his possession.

There’s no word on when Hoder’s sentencing hearing will be.

Ohio County Assistant Prosecutor Gail Kahle served as special prosecutor. Hoder was represented by W. Braden Noon.