A Ross man, who federal prosecutors believe traveled across the state to have sex with a 2-year-old, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of receiving child pornography.

The other counts against Roderick T. Long, 41, including inducing a minor into illegal sexual activity, will be dismissed following his sentencing.

He faces five to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced June 7.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina O. Miller plans to present evidence to Senior U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond at sentencing that Mr. Long traveled to Emporium, Cameron County, from May to November 2003 to meet with the mother and 2-year-old and that he sexually assaulted her.

Because that activity did not occur in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Mr. Long could not be charged with it here.

The count he pleaded guilty to, receiving child pornography, is the most serious with which he was charged, said U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan.

At his sentencing, the prosecution will argue that Mr. Long should be sentenced at the level commensurate with producing child pornography.

"This crime is much more severe than a person receiving child pornography," Ms. Buchanan said.

Mr. Long's federal public defender, Linda E.J. Cohn, told Judge Diamond that her client does not admit having sexual contact with the child.

The case against Mr. Long began with the arrest of a Waco, Texas, man for distributing child pornography. Through that investigation, officials learned that another man, Mr. Long, was sending money to Angela McCullen of Lycoming County in exchange for photos of her 2-year-old.

He and Ms. McCullen, who used an online name of NeonAngelEyes, engaged in sexually explicit online chats about the little girl, and Mr. Long's home computer contained "every known pornographic image" of her, Ms. Miller said.

As part of his plea agreement, Mr. Long will be required to register as a convicted sex offender.

Ms. McCullen is in jail and awaiting sentencing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She pleaded guilty to one count -- manufacturing child pornography -- on Sept. 21, 2004.

She faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.

Frederick T. Martin, the assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting Ms. McCullen's case, would not explain the agreement that allowed her to plead to just one count.

Additional charges against her will be dismissed at sentencing.

As part of her plea agreement, Ms. McCullen agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Because there are several defendants in related cases, her sentencing has been postponed several times until the other cases are resolved.

Four other local men also were charged in the case and have already been sentenced.

Ms. McCullen's boyfriend, Richard D. King Jr. of Berks County, is awaiting trial in May in the Middle District on four related charges.

Paula Reed Ward can be reached at pward@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2620.