 Hi everyone thanks for joining us tonight. Former Bemidji Middle School Assistant Principal Brandon Bjorkness was sentenced today in federal court to a 25-year prison sentence proposing as a middle-aged school boy to lure students into sending sexually explicit photos and videos to him. The 35-year-old Bjorkness had pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual conduct and one count of production of child pornography. The sentence is five years less than the prosecuting attorneys requested but ten years more than what the defense wanted. Bjorkness is not eligible for parole. He will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence but with good behavior he could receive a 15 percent reduction. The sentencing hearing today spanned more than two hours and parents of the victims spoke of the pain Bjorkness caused the victims and their families. One of the victims' moms released a statement to Lakeland News tonight and that statement reads as follows and again we are not identifying the mother in order to protect the identity of the victim. Here's that statement quote although I was hoping for the maximum sentence today 25 years feels like enough justice that my family can hopefully begin to put this behind us. It is my hope that Brandon's eyes were open today and he now has a better understanding of how his crimes impacted so many people. I also hope his family and supporters now understand the devastation and heartbreak he caused. Bjorkness created fake social media profiles to contact at least 55 known minor victims over the course of multiple years. He also used persuaded enticed and coerced six known minor victims to produce child pornography. He was a sick young man and needs to deal with that and he's had the courage to confront those demons and he's still doing that and he'll be doing them for a long time. I cried with him but I also cried with Brandon and his family. This is a young man that had a great family and a good education and a loving wife and and two young children. Wold says he is told Bjorkness that he should not appeal the sentence Bjorkness will be sentenced for state charges on Thursday, February 8th in Beltrami County District Court. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.