Former Law and Order director Jason 'Jace' Alexander sentenced to 10 years probation for child abuse images

Alexander faced up to seven years in prison

Jace Alexander had been charged with one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child and one count of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child (Getty Images )

The former director of Law and Order has escaped a prison sentence after pleading guilty to possessing an image of child abuse.

Jason 'Jace' Alexander, 52, has been sentenced to 10 years probation by a New York court after admitting to promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing an obscene performance by a child.

Alexander was arrested and charged in July when an investigator from the Westchester County District Attorney discovered digital files of children aged under 16 at his New York residence.

He will be expected to register as a sex offender in New York as part of the terms of his probation. He faced a maximum prison sentence of seven years.

Alexander has also directed episodes of the US drama Rescue Me, according to IMBD.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press