text: Disgraced: Christopher Wheeler, 54, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for dealing child pornography (mugshot from 2013) A disgraced former headmaster of a $27,000-a-year prep school has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for dealing child pornography. Christopher Wheeler, 54, who worked at the exclusive Tower Hill school in Delaware, had more than 2,000 images and videos of boys engaging in sex acts with men when police raided his $350,000 mansion in Wilmington in October 2013. One of those showed a naked boy with his head being held by an adult male while performing a sex act. Court documents say Wheeler was running Net Shred - a program designed to eradicate internet history - when authorities knocked on his door. The discovery led to the accomplished composer and pilot being fired from a job he had held for nine years, which had a salary of nearly $3700,000. The investigation stemmed from allegations he had sexually his adopted son, aspiring professional golfer Nikolai, and two other teenagers. Nikolai has however denied the allegations and Wheeler has not faced abuse charges. He was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Eric M. Davis on Friday, the same judge who found him guilty of the shocking crimes in December. Wheeler opted for a non-jury trial in September which only last one day. She told the court on Friday Wheeler had 'developed a pattern of Internet browsing for child pornography.' After police searched his school-owned mansion, his private plane and his school office, he tried to flee, but turned himself into authorities less than a month later. According to the Delaware News Journal, he turned down a plea bargain which may have substantially reduced his sentence. Wheeler's attorney, Thomas A. Foley, plans to appeal the sentence, claiming Delaware law requiring two years behind bars on each count is 'obscene and outrageous'. Fall from grace: The former headmaster at the exclusive Tower Hill School in Delaware, who earned nearly $370,000 a year in the position, was arrested after police searched his mansion, school office and private plane in 2013 . He insisted that the court wanted to paint Wheeler as 'Mr Filthy' insisting there is 'no proof he knew' the child images were there. But Davis stated the sheer number of indecent images did not inadvertently end up on his computer. Prosecutor Abigail Layton told the paper after sentencing: 'Think about what is contained in each of those pictures. 'In those pictures, kids are being raped and violated and it is captured on film for the rest of their life, the life of the Internet. Their worst moments are on film.' She added Wheeler had used child porn for his 'own gratification' and 'it was not by mistake, it was by design.' 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. Property: Police discovered more than 2,000 images of children engaging in sex acts with men during a raid on his school-owned mansion in Wilmington, Delaware (pictured) In the 1970s he was accused of attacking two brothers from a family he had befriended at Westtown Friends School. According to a search warrant seen by the News Journal, the pair decided to bring up the allegations after the child sex abuse case of former Penn State University assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Wheeler wrote a letter to one of the brothers which, according to court documents, read: 'I did those things. I am the one responsible. 'I will not compound your pain by attempting to deny or in any way deflect responsibility for my actions 35 years ago. I'll wait to hear from you about further appropriate steps towards resolution and restitution.' School administrators said last month they had found no evidence Wheeler had abused any students there. They added that he had been 'thoroughly vetted' before taking the job. Founded in 1919 by Du Pont family members, Tower's Hill's graduates include US Senator Chris Coons, former Governor and Congressman. Mike Castle, DuPont Co. chief executive Ellen Kullman and television personality Dr. Oz. The school, named one of the top 50 in the United States, has around 750 students aged from three to 18. History: Founded in 1919 by du Pont family members, Tower's Hill's graduates include US Senator Chris Coons, former Governor and Congressman. Mike Castle and television personality Dr. Oz . Claims: The investigation stemmed from allegations he had sexually his adopted son, aspiring professional golfer Nikolai (pictured), and two other teenagers. Nikolai has however denied the allegations . Esteemed: The school, named one of the top 50 in the United States, has around 750 students aged from three to 18 .
target: Christopher Wheeler, 54, worked at the exclusive Tower Hill in Delaware .
  Police discovered 2,000 indecent images on his computers in October 2013 .
  Composer and pilot was found guilty of multiple sex offences in December .
  He was headmaster for nine years and earned around $370,000 a year .
  His attorneys claim the court tried to paint him as 'Mr Filthy'
  Elite school was founded in 1919 by members of the Du Pont family .
  Past graduates include US Senator Chris Coons and TV personality Dr Oz .