Christopher Wheeler, 54, was found guilty on all 25 counts. Wheeler is a former headmaster at Tower Hill school in Delaware, where he was paid more than $300,000 a year and where tuition exceeds $25,000 a year. Graduates of the school, founded by members of the du Pont family, include DuPont Co. CEO Ellen Kullman, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons and television personality Dr. Oz.

Superior Court Judge Eric Davis said the evidence showed Wheeler sought out and downloaded images of child porn.

Wheeler waived his right to a jury trial after the judge denied a defense motion to suppress evidence seized by police.

Wheeler showed no emotion as Davis read from a lengthy opinion. The judge tentatively set Wheeler's sentencing for March. Each count carries a minimum two-year prison term.

Defense attorney Tom Foley said he planned to appeal.

Wheeler resigned from Tower Hill in October 2013 and has remained behind bars in lieu of $1.5 million cash bail since his arrest.

Wheeler, an accomplished musician and composer who flew his own airplane, was hired as headmaster at Tower Hill in late 2004 after 14 years at Lake Forest Academy near Chicago, where he was assistant headmaster and wrestling coach. He previously worked at St. Paul's School in Garden City, New York.

Tower Hill officials said in a letter to the community after Wheeler's arrest that he was extensively vetted and had a criminal background check before being hired.

Court records suggested Wheeler for years may have hidden a darker side.

In a letter to a man who asked Wheeler about making amends for alleged child sexual abuse, Wheeler wrote: "I did those things. I am the one responsible," according to court documents.

Wheeler has never been charged with sexually abusing anyone, despite allegations leveled by the Pennsylvania man and his younger brother. They came forward in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State University. Wheeler's own adopted son also has accused him of abuse.

Prompted by those allegations, Delaware investigators searched Wheeler's home and office at Tower Hill last fall for evidence of witness tampering or intimidation. They instead found more than 2,000 images of child pornography, according to police.

A Delaware State Police officer who was the only witness called at Wheeler's trial testified that Wheeler had subscribed to several online newsgroups involved in child pornography, and that Wheeler tried to scrub his laptop computer as police closed in on him. (***)

Popular

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Analysis: Indonesia denies normalization with Israel to enter OECD

Citroen to produce electric cars in Indonesia