Czukoski Pleads Guilty to Child-Porn Possession

The former Phoenixville Area Middle School principal who was charged with possession of child pornography in March after an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service pleaded guilty Friday.

Troy Czukoski, 42, of Exton, pleaded guilty to possessing more than 150, but fewer than 300, images of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Court Judge Legrome D. Davis scheduled a sentencing hearing for Aug. 12.

Czukoski faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison, a mandatory five years of supervised release—up to a lifetime of supervised release—a fine of up to $250,000 and a $100 special assessment.

Czukoski had attempted to plead guilty in April; however, the judge did not accept the plea because he sensed hesitation.

Czukoski was identified through a website that sells child porn and website records showed that he had made 13 purchases from 2008 through 2011, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

A warrant was then executed on his home, during which Czukoski confessed that he had purchased the pornographic content over the Internet, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

He also directed authorities to his hiding spot, which was a paint can hidden under the insulation in a back portion of the attic, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

Agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service found numerous CDs and DVDs, as well as two flash drives that contained images and video of child porn.

Czukoski have been working as the Springton Lake Middle School principal, but was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 18 following the Rose Tree Media School District's notification of the investigation. When he was formally charged in March the Rose Tree Media Board of School Directors accepted his resignation effective March 5. He had been hired July 1, 2012.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.

Previous Patch Coverage of the Czukoski Case:

• Judge Doesn't Accept Czukoski's Guilty Plea
• Former Phoenixville Middle School Principal Moves to Springton Lake
• Former Phoenixville Middle School Principal Under Federal Investigation
• No Details on Federal Investigation of Former Middle School Principal
• Child Porn Charge News to Phoenixville School District
• Phoenixville School Board May Launch Czukoski Investigation
• Phoenixville to Review Child Porn Warning Signs