PROVO — A man whose pornography habit was discovered through a lie-detector test when he applied for a state job pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Henry Howk, 38, Payson, pleaded guilty in 4th District Court to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.

He acknowledged to Judge Fred Howard that in May 2006 he had knowingly used a computer to download child pornography.

Howk had applied for a job with the Department of Corrections and as part of the application process took a polygraph test, during which time he disclosed his illegal habit, said Paul Amann, assistant Utah attorney general.

"We'd like to think we can catch every criminal at some point," Amann said. "(This) certainly expedited catching him."

Howk agreed to the plea deal in exchange that four other felony charges of exploitation of a minor and one charge of obstruction of justice be dismissed. He will have a pre-sentence review and be sentenced Jan. 15.

Howk didn't want to comment about the hearing.

Amann said it appears Howk's pornography habit had gone on for a while, but he wasn't sure of an exact time frame.

Amann gave a warning reminder that a sexual exploitation of a minor conviction means lifetime sex-offender registration.

He said that often when people are caught, they know they have a problem and the problem has been going on for years.

"It's better to address those issues now, when it's a non-contact offense, rather than actual contact offenses," Amann said. "I think it's good Mr. Howk was honest about what has occurred. Now it's out in the open, he can address it fully. It will be beneficial for him and his family and any future victims, had it gone beyond this phase."

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