Headmaster at $26,000-a-year private prep school faces up to 50 years in prison as he is convicted of child pornography
- Christopher Wheeler, 54, has been convicted on 25 counts of dealing in child pornography
- He was paid more than $300,000 a year as the headteacher at Tower Hill School in Delaware where tuition exceeds $25,000
- Police allegedly found some 2,000 explicit digital images of men engaged in sexual acts with young boys at Wheeler's home and office
- Each of the charges he faces carries a minimum two-year prison term, totaling a maximum of 50 years
A former headmaster at one of the most exclusive prep schools in the U.S. has been convicted on 25 counts of dealing in child pornography.
Christopher Wheeler, 54, who was stationed at Tower Hill school in Delaware, was charged with the offenses last year after his office, campus home and private plane were searched.
Wheeler's sentencing is tentatively set for March 27. Each of the charges he faces carries a minimum two-year prison term, totaling a maximum of 50 years.
Facing jail time: Former Tower Hill headteacher Christopher Wheeler has been convicted on 25 counts of dealing in child pornography
Wheeler, who presided over Tower Hill's 750 pupils aged three to 18, turned himself into police in November 2013 after police asked for the public's help in finding him.
The unmarried teacher went missing the month before when he became the focus of a child sex abuse probe linked to an incident more 30 years ago.
The investigation was prompted by allegations made by Pennsylvania man and his younger brother.
Under investigation: Wheeler, who presided over Tower Hill's 750 pupils aged three to 18, turned himself into police in November 2013 after police asked for the public's help in finding him
Police conducted a search of Wheeler's property for evidence of witness tampering or intimidation and instead found child pornography.
They allegedly found some 2,000 explicit digital images of men engaged in sexual acts with young boys.
In Monday's bench trial Wheeler was not charged with abusing anyone.
Wheeler, whose adopted Russian son Nikolai is a professional golfer, was taken on by Tower Hill in 2004.
Exclusive: Tower Hill School in Delaware, where tuition costs up to $26,955 a year, hired Wheeler in 2004
He had previously been assistant head of school and dean of admissions at Lake Forest Academy in Illinois and had held a post at St. Paul's School in Garden City, New York.
Tower Hill, whose alumni include TV personality Dr Oz and Senator Chris Coons, said that Wheeler was 'thoroughly vetted' before being hired.
The accomplished musician, composer and pilot, was paid more than $300,000 a year at the school, where tuition exceeds $26,000.
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