When we think of molesters and child-porn aficionados, we don't necessarily think “genius.”

But this guy has to be more bent that most: Federal authorities say they caught 31-year-old child molester Christian Hernandez after he vied to become a CHP officer and actually admitted in his application that he had viewed child porn.

Of course they checked it out, and today, instead of getting behind the wheel of a patrol car, he got …

… 30 years in a federal lockup.

Good thing, because he admitted to molesting a 5-year-old girl over the course of a year and taking photos of the crimes. He ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of “of production of child pornography,” according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in L.A.

Hernandez was also ordered to pay for counseling — $71,000 — for the victim.

After he admitted to his child porn hobby on the CHP application, cops went to his El Monte home and found a stash of imagery that included molestation in a very bedroom in that house, feds say.

Prosecutors said “he bragged about his conduct on a job application to the CHP.”

Thirty years (and subsequent supervision) might only be the beginning for him: Hernandez faces more charges from the L.A. County District Attorney's Office.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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