Former fire chief sentenced to jail in child porn case

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – A former Sioux Falls fire chief will spend some time in jail, but not prison for possessing child pornography.

A judge in Minnehaha County sent Jim Sideras to jail for 100 days Thursday after the former chief earlier pleaded guilty to one count of possession. Nine other counts were dropped. Sideras could have gotten 10 years in a state prison for the charge against him.

The 59-year-old Sideras was given a suspended 6-year sentence and 6 years of probation. He was also given a sentence of 180 days in jail with 80 days suspended.

Sideras told the court he takes full responsibility for his actions and was initially too embarrassed to accept help from a therapist. He was the city’s fire chief for 6 years before he was charged in May 2017 , just weeks shy of his retirement.

AP-WF-03-01-19