Former Boy Scouts leader to plead guilty to child porn charge

A former Boy Scouts leader from Chapel Hill has agreed to plead guilty to receiving child pornography, according to federal court records.

Brian Joseph Burnham, 36, faces five to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 when he is sentenced.

An online tip in November to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to Burnham's February arrest, authorities said.

According to court documents, he “knowingly received” child pornography from January 2009 through November 2014.

John Akerman, executive with the Occonneechee Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Raleigh, said Burnham was dismissed from the scouting program when he was arrested.