BALLSTON SPA — Former Stillwater Mayor Ricky W. Nelson pleaded guilty Thursday to five felonies for possessing child pornography.

Nelson pleaded guilty to counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child in connection with his arrest last August by state police. He had downloaded child pornography over the internet. Nelson resigned from the mayoral post after his arrest. The Republican had been mayor since 2015. (Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Nelson is a Democrat.)

Nelson pleaded guilty with the understanding he will receive a five- to 15-year state prison sentence when he appears before Saratoga County Judge James Murphy on June 19.

Nelson is the father of Patrick Nelson, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro.