A Burke County teacher accused last month in an international child pornography investigation has pleaded guilty.

Fifty-four-year-old Michael Andrew Alexander of Morganton was sentenced Thursday to 49 years and six months in prison. Alexander pleaded guilty to three counts each of a first-degree sex offense with a child and indecent liberties with a child.

Prosecutors dropped several counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor.

Alexander taught in Burke County for 12 years, most recently at Hildebran Elementary School.

Authorities say Alexander was arrested after agents found images of young girls wearing "Hildebran" T-shirts during an investigation in Barcelona, Spain, by Interpol.

Authorities think the crimes occurred between 2001 and 2012.