"Heinous and Degrading" Molester Gets 30 Years in Fed Pen

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) In September 2008, a jury convicted a 45-year-old woman, Dorothy Prawdzik, on 15 counts of producing and possessing child pornography.

This week, U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Stengel sentenced Prawdzik to 30 years in federal prison, calling her crimes "unusually heinous and degrading."

Prawdzik's prosecution ran concurrent with that of her accomplice, child predator John Jackey Worman, who was convicted by the same jury on 55 counts of producing and possessing child pornography.

Most of the child pornography was of Worman committing anal, oral and vaginal sex on children ranging from infants to 15 years old. Prawdzik provided Worman with a number of the children he victimized over a nine-year period.

“Her role was a central role, not a minimal role,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rotella. “She procured these children for Mr. Worman. Three of the victims were under 12; one was an infant.”

During the trial, jurors were shown unspeakable images of children, one as young as 3 months old, being sexually assaulted by Worman. So horrific were the images, Stengel noted, that immediately after the trial, he arranged for jurors to meet with a psychologist.

Rotella asked the judge for an upward departure from the sentencing guidelines, saying Prawdzik was “in every way just as guilty as John Worman.” Prawdzik, she said, brought one of the victims, a 10-month-old baby, to Worman’s house so he could abuse her.

“She turned (the infant) over to a sexual monster. She stood there and watched and filmed as John Worman sexually assaulted that baby,” the prosecutor said. “If ever a case called for a life sentence, it is this case.”

Rotella didn't see a life sentenced imposed but said she was happy that Prawdzik will be in her 70s when she is released from prison.

Defending Prawdzik, lawyer Steven Laver said his client had been sexually abused as a teenager and had a fragile personality structure. Explaining herself, Prawdzik said she made some mistakes and was sorry. She said Worman threatened to kill her. Judge Stengel remarked that Prawdzik was pumping smoke and "flat-out" rejected her argument.

Worman awaits sentencing for his involvement. No date set yet. A third defendant, Concetta Jackson, also awaits sentencing.

Somewhat shocking is the fact that the aggravated molestation of children occurred over a nine-year period and nobody seemed to notice. Surely, there must have been some signals within the community that all was not well.