Tahoe teacher gets prison for child porn

By Adam Jensen

Nevada Appeal News Service

A former South Lake Tahoe elementary school teacher convicted of child pornography possession has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison.

United States District Judge William Shubb sentenced Karsten Gronwold to 97 months in prison on Monday, according to a press statement from the U.S. District Attorney's Office.

"My behavior was indeed horribly wrong and for that I am sorry," said Gronwold during sentencing, according to the statement. The former teacher also admitted to "a hidden life of lies and secrets" prior to his arrest, according to the statement.

Under federal law, Gronwold will be required to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence and could be forced to leave the country following his incarceration.

"He is not a citizen and likely will be deported to Australia following his prison sentence," according to the statement.

How the threat of deportation could affect local prosecution is unknown.

Representatives from the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office have previously stated Gronwold would face charges of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor under the age of 14 in El Dorado Superior Court, following the conclusion of the federal case.

The district attorney's office was not immediately available for comment on Monday.

In August, Gronwold pleaded guilty to possessing images of young boys engaged in sexual conduct. At the time of his Sept. 1, 2006, arrest Gronwold taught at the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School.