GREEN BAY, Wis.— In sentencing a former Tomah high school principal to five years on a child porn charge. U.S. Judge William Griesbach accepted the prosecutor’s recommendation not to throw the book at him. David Hay, 40, had been charged with attempting to entice a minor to engage in sex and possessing child pornography. The enticement charge carried a 10-year sentence. The porn charge carried five years. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Humble recommended only the five years, noting that Hay had no prior convictions and was extremely well educated which, he said, “compounds the tragedy of this matter.” Letters to the court asked for leniency. At Tomah, according to one letter, Hay was reliable, loyal and “a goal-orientated and effective leader.” In court Hay apologized to colleagues and students for shaking “the tremendous trust you put in public education.” Hay mentioned struggles with alcohol. Pornography got the best of him, he said. Judge Griesbach called Hay’s case more serious than simply receiving child pornography because he had he had gotten children to engage sexually and him photos. But, the judge added, there was already punishment by disgrace and the inability to work in education ever again. For engaging minors, the judge placed Hays on 10 years supervised probation — no prison time beyond the five years.
