Former Chanhassen High School principal sentenced to prison for porn possession

A Carver County judge sentenced former Chanhassen High School Principal Timothy Dorway to five years in prison Wednesday as part of a plea deal for possessing child pornography.

Dorway, 45, had pleaded guilty in June to seven counts of felony possession of child pornography. He will now serve at least 40 months in prison and 20 months on supervised release. Dorway will also have to register as a predatory offender. The U.S. Attorney's Office agreed not to pursue federal prosecution, according to the Carver County Attorney's Office.

Authorities from the internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip about Dorway from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in December. Investigators discovered 127 videos and images involving girls and boys in Dorway's possession. Dorway had used Dropbox to receive links to child porn.

Carver County Attorney Mark Metz said Dorway exchanged the images with others.

"He was not in his basement looking at five photographs," Metz said. "He was trading them."

Dorway previously told investigators that was drawn to images of girls ages 11 to 13.

Prosecutor Angella Erickson read a victim impact statement during Dorway's sentencing Wednesday. Carver County Attorney Mark Metz said the victim was featured in the images Dorway possessed and officials were able to identify a number of actual victims through national exploited children's units.

" This is not a victimless crime," Metz said. " This is a crime against the community."

At his sentencing hearing, Dorway said he has a pornography addiction and is trying to get help. Several members from the community came to court to support him.

Dorway resigned as principal in January after leading the school since 2010.

Beatrice Dupuy • 612-673-1707