A former Michigan City police officer will spend the rest of his life behind bars for child exploitation crimes. 

46-year-old Neil Lachmund was sentenced to 54 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, after pleading guilty to producing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Federal prosecutors say Lachmund’s crimes stretched over a decade, during which he created and shared images and videos, while reaching tens of thousands more on his devices.

FBI and Homeland Security investigators say the sentence sends a clear message that no one is above the law.