PARIS - Although he has not yet been sentenced, a former substitute teacher indicted for possessing child pornography has turned himself in at the Oxford County Jail.

Gilbert E. Telford, 69, of Tracey Lane in Lovell, was admitted to the jail Monday morning.

"He was set to plead that day, and court got canceled," defense attorney Walter McKee said. "He was pretty much ready to go at that point."

Proceedings at the Oxford County Superior Court were canceled Monday due to the snowstorm. McKee said he had reached an agreement with Assistant District Attorney Joe O'Connor, and believes Telford will serve six months out of a longer sentence.

Telford was indicted last February for possession of sexually explicit materials of a minor under the age of 12, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. McKee said Telford's lack of a criminal record and age were factors in the mitigated sentence.

Telford came under investigation in October 2006 after a housekeeper who worked for him every other week became concerned about materials she found in Telford's home and contacted the principal of the New Suncook School in Lovell.

Telford had been serving as a substitute teacher for SAD 72, which encompasses Fryeburg, Lovell, Denmark, Sweden, Brownfield, Stoneham and Stow.

Police seized five computers from Telford's home, as well as numerous CDs, videos and DVDs. The Maine Computer Crimes Task Force discovered tens of thousands of pornographic photos of children as well as over 300 digital movies, some with children under the age of 12, according to police records.

The Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria, Va., identified several missing children through Telford's material. None of the children in the material were local.

McKee said Telford withdrew his own bail money so he could start the sentence. He is being held on $2,500 cash bail, the same amount set after his initial arrest.

Telford is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.