HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A former East Hartford police officer has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.

The U.S. Attorney's office said Tuesday that 49-year-old Andrew W. Nielsen of South Windsor pleaded guilty in federal court in Hartford to one count of possession of child pornography.

Prosecutors say Nielsen purchased several DVDs containing child pornography, including depictions of prepubescent minors, from a foreign company and had them shipped to his residence. Authorities say Nielsen was arrested on Nov. 1, 2012, when law enforcement executed a court-authorized search warrant at his residence and seized several of the DVDs he ordered.

Nielsen, who resigned from the police department after his arrest, faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced June 18.

Nielsen's attorney, Ryan McGuigan, says the DVDs did not contain sexual activity but were considered child pornography because of lewd material.