Drexel Hill woman gets 30 years in porn case

Calling it a "parent's worst nightmare," a U.S. District Court judge sentenced a Delaware County woman to 30 years in prison for procuring victims as young as 10 months in an "extraordinarily sociopathic" child-pornography case.

Dorothy Prawdzik, 44, of Drexel Hill, made her own daughter, three nieces and a nephew - all between 10 months and 8 years old - undress and pose so her ex-boyfriend could film and sexually abuse them. He also filmed her having sex with her son, a daughter, and a niece.

Prawdzik was guilty of 15 counts of aiding and abetting John Jackey Worman, 41, of Colwyn, whom Judge Lawrence F. Stengel described as a "sophisticated pervert" who made pornographic videos and still photos of 12 children over a nine-year period.

Worman, convicted of 55 counts of manufacturing pornography and one count of possession, is undergoing psychiatric evaluation, and no sentencing date has been set. He is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison and still faces charges in state court for various sexual acts, including one in which he was convicted of forcing himself on a 10-month-old.

Prawdzik, who lived on public assistance, delivered two of her four children - a son and a daughter - as well as nieces and a nephew to Worman for the videos.

"She used her relationship with every kid to fit her own sexual desires," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rotelle. "If ever a case called out for life, this case does."

Heeding an argument of "proportionality" made by court-appointed defense attorney Steven Laver, the judge cited Prawdzik's low IQ as well as an "incestuous" upbringing as mitigating factors.

Prawdzik sat stone-faced through a procession of four witnesses, including her own two abused children. But she broke into tears when pleading to the judge for leniency.

"I wasn't going to speak at first," she said. "But when I heard my kids I knew I had to speak. . . . Yes, I did make mistakes. I'm far from perfect. . . . I pray God heals the families."

She claimed she was threatened by Worman, who, in previous trials, was described as "Satanlike."

"I put him before my kids," Prawdzik said. "He threatened me and used my kids against me. . . . I was afraid. Yes, I did what he told me. . . . I want to make it right. I know I must be punished."

Both Rotelle and the mother of one of victims said they were pleased with the sentencing, even though it was not life in jail.

"The depravity indicated in this case is beyond explanation," U.S. Attorney Laurie Magid said after the trial.

Said Stengel: "There could not be a worse case. . . . It's incomprehensible."

Prosecutors found more than 1.2 million still images and 11,000 videos on hard drives, CDs, DVDs, and computers belonging to Worman.

A third defendant, Concetta Jackson, 45, of Collingdale, has pleaded guilty and is to be sentenced June 8.