A sex offender assaulted in his cell by a self-proclaimed skinhead will spend nearly 15 years in prison for child pornography charges.

Darrel W. Monzingo, 45, was sentenced today to 161 months after he pleaded guilty this summer to possessing and distributing child pornography. The case began when a Colorado Internet Crimes Against Child Task Force discovered him sharing the material over the Internet.

The investigation led to Spokane,  where the Spokane Police Department executed a search warrant on Dec. 16, 2010.

Officers seized about three dozen items of digital equipment containing thousands of images of child pornography – including some images Monzingo took himself, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Rice said.

Monzingo has been in federal custody since Jan. 20. He was originally charged with producing child pornography. In March, he was assaulted by a self-proclaimed skinhead who was later convicted after a bench trial.