CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Mothers and fathers with anger and tears in their eyes asked a federal judge Monday to sentence a former Dubuque elementary school principal to the maximum term for secretly videotaping their children in the boys’ bathroom.

One side of the courtroom was packed with more than 20 parents of Sageville Elementary School students who wanted to make sure the judge understood what former Principal Robert Burke did to their children.

A mother of two victims said no child should have to worry about his/her safety at school.

“He planned and plotted….he took advantage of his power and position,” she said. “My children are silent victims but I refuse to be.”

Another mother of two victims said confronting Burke was the most difficult thing for her to do but he betrayed students, parents and the entire community. She asked the court not to consider the “polite and quiet” man sitting in court today but instead to consider the 59 victims and the 32,000 images and 12,000 videos produced by this man.

A father of 10-year-old victim said his son started to cry when they explained what happened and his son said he wanted to confront Burke and ask him why.

“What he did was unthinkable,” the father said. “My son will never forget this as long as he lives.”

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade gave Burke, 43, the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

Burke pleaded guilty in August to one count of production of child pornography. He was originally charged with seven charges including possessing, receiving and distributing child pornography. The other six charges were dismissed Monday in accordance with the plea agreement.

Burke admitted in court to installing a hidden camera in the boy’s restroom at the school between January and June and to using the recordings to produce child pornography videos and images found in his home. The videos depicted the students’ genitals.
“This is the most aggravating circumstances,” Reade said. “Just when you think you have heard of every depravity….this is the most depraved.”

Reade said the sentence is appropriate because she feels Burke is a danger to the community. He violated the trust of the children, parents and the entire community.

Reade said while it’s true no there was no evidence that Burke molested or touched any of the boys, he admitted to having sexual fantasies and had one of the largest collections of child pornography she had heard of during her time on the bench. The ages range from infant to prepubescent boys in the videos, she said.

Burke installed video cameras under the sinks, above bathroom stalls and put one on his belt so when he walked into the bathroom he could record images of children using the bathroom, Reade said.

Special Agent Ward Crawley with the Division of Criminal Investigation, testified about forensically examining Burke’s electronic items. He said most of Burke’s collection was downloaded from the Internet. There were a few videos that had a Sageville child’s name on multiple videos.

Crawley said there was no evidence that any Sageville victims’ images or videos were distributed to others, but there was one chat conversation where Burke offered a video of boys using the bathroom. The person didn’t reply to him.

Burke, who showed little reaction or emotion during the hearing, apologized to the students and their parents for his “selfish actions.” He said he allowed a “personal problem” to hurt the school district and the community.

“I’ve shamed my family, embarrassed my friends and angered the community,” Burke said. “The arrest was a vivid wake up call for me. I’ve learned my lesson… I feel (treatment) can help me control my behavior.”

Burke asked the judge to consider rehabilitation and not just harsh punishment.

Mark Brown, Burke’s attorney, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Tremmel, who prosecuted the case, declined to comment after the hearing.

Burke also will be on supervised release for 20 years after his sentence, register as a sex offender and pay a $25,000 fine. He will not be allowed to have contact with children under the age 18 or any contact with the Sageville students and their parents.