NEWARK -- A Linden man who once taught religion classes, volunteered to lead scouting groups and was preparing to be a Catholic deacon was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison for possession of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton sentenced Gregory Aker, issuing him a longer sentence than the one sought by prosecutors. Wigenton said she was troubled by the volume of images and videos investigators found on Aker's computers, and the violence in some of those images.

She also noted Aker's history, citing state charges for child sexual abuse and endangering children that he is facing in Union County Superior Court.

Gregory Aker received eight years in prison for possession of child pornography.

In addition, Aker in 1991 faced charges that he exposed himself to an 11-year-old child, prosecutors said. He paid a $750 fine on that case, which occurred in Bernards Township, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman's office.

Aker pleaded guilty to the possession charge last year.

Prosecutors did not produce any evidence that Aker did anything inappropriate with children when he served as a Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader or religious education instructor, said defense attorney Jeffrey Hark.

Aker, from St. Therese of the Child Jesus parish in Linden, also had been studying through the Archdiocese of Newark to become a Catholic deacon before being charged.

Aker did not produce or share the pornographic materials, Wigenton said, but that doesn't make his crimes victimless.

The fact that there is a demand for child pornography "drives the industry," she said.

Aker acknowledged that his crimes were not victimless, saying he "willfully cooperated with this evil." He apologized, and said his acts hurt his family and the community.

His parents, who were in the courtroom, made a statement of support for him, while also saying punishment was appropriate for his acts.

Aker will also plead guilty to the state charges, Hark said. Hark and the prosecutor's office have been in talks about pleading to a charge that would carry a sentence that would be served before his imprisonment on the federal possession charges, he said.

After his imprisonment ends, Wigenton ordered Aker to register as a sex offender and have restricted contact with children.

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.