TRENTON — A former New Jersey lawmaker who championed legislation fighting child pornography was sentenced yesterday to a five-year term for viewing nude images of underage girls.

Neil Cohen will serve the term either in prison or in a mental hospital. The state Corrections Department will decide which venue within the next 10 days.

His lawyer told the judge the former assemblyman has been suicidal and has several mental-health issues, including chronic depression. He has been hospitalized for months, said the lawyer, Mark Tuohey.