Former Day Care Director Sentenced to Prison

A former day care director from Enfield was sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison Wednesday for possession of child pornography. 54-year-old Michael Whelton pleaded guilty back in August to four felony counts of possessing images depicting children engaging in sexual acts after a lengthy investigation involving state and federal authorities.

According to Grafton Superior Court documents, the images were found on a work-issued laptop returned to the Children’s Center of the Upper Valley after Whelton was terminated for suspicion of embezzlement.

It was later revealed he unlawfully took about $4,000 dollars from the day care. Whelton worked as the day care’s director for two years, prompting a thorough investigation into whether any local children were involved.

Whelton began serving his prison sentence Aug. 4 after entering his guilty plea, and is eligible to be released no sooner than August of 2019.