BANGOR – Two Bangor men pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to possession of child pornography.

Patrick James Monahan, 38, and Kenneth H. McLay, 33, each face a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing dates have not been set.

Both men have been jailed while awaiting their sentencings.

FBI agents began investigating the pair, who shared a Husson Avenue apartment, in September 2002 after a man facing similar charges in England said he had corresponded with Monahan about child pornography.

Monahan and McLay admitted to police that they had downloaded sexually explicit images of minor boys, according to court documents. Investigators also found text documents describing sexual acts between adult men and minor boys.

Because of their plea agreements with prosecutors, Monahan and McLay most likely will spend 2 1/2 to three years in federal prison based on the federal sentencing guidelines., according to court documents.

Information on how any prior criminal records might affect their sentences was not available Friday.