USA Professor Pleads Guilty

A University of South Alabama professor has pleaded guilty to sending obscene pictures of himself to a teenager.

Barry Simpson, 43, made the plea in federal court in Miami today.

The economics professor used his university issued computer to send pictures of his erect penis to a person he thought was a 13 year old girl, according to the arrest affidavit obtained by News Five.

Investigators say during a chat on October 27, Simpson allegedly told the undercover agent he also shared nude photos with a 15 year old girl from Georgia, and forwarded the agent a picture of the girl lifting up her shirt and exposing her breasts.

Simpson, who was arrested in November 2008, was initially charged with two counts of sending obscene material to a minor. According to the plea agreement filed in federal court, one count was dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea.

Simpson faces up to ten years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced September 28.

The case is in the United States District Court of Southern Florida because the FBI agent was in Miami at the time the pictures were sent.

The University of South Alabama announced late Thursday afternoon that Simpson, who was suspended with pay after his arrest, has now been fired.