Judge suspends child porn trial of former Delaware school headmaster

The trial for Former Tower Hill Headmaster Christopher Wheeler began Tuesday at the New Castle County Courthouse.

Wheeler faces 25 counts of dealing child porn after investigators found child porn images on his computers and other devices while executing a search warrant last year.

Wheeler waived his right to a trial by jury and is undergoing a bench trial before Superior Court Judge Eric Davis.

During the brief start to the trial Tuesday, defense attorney Tom Foley submitted a motion for an acquittal of the current charges, arguing that there is no forensic proof that Wheeler ever opened, viewed or distributed the images that were downloaded to his devices.

He said the files could have been automatically downloaded through “newsgroups” that Wheeler had subscribed to.

Wheeler wore a white Department of Corrections outfit and did not testify.

Judge Davis suspended the trial until the end of the month to review the motion.

Police obtained a search warrant for Wheeler’s home, office, vehicle and plane last October after three men accused Wheeler of sexual abuse more than 30 years ago.

Investigators came across the pornographic images while searching for evidence that Wheeler tried to intimidate the victims.

No charges have been filed in the sexual abuse case.

Wheeler resigned as headmaster of Tower Hill School, a private college prep school in Wilmington, last year.