June 21, 2011 Will County soccer coach faces molestation and porn charges www.privateofficer.com
Will County IL June 21 2011 A Will County youth soccer and volleyball coach already accused of molesting a 12-year-old boy is also charged with child pornography.
Darrell J. Stephenson, 24, of Crest Hill, was charged June 16 with three counts of aggravated child pornography and one charge of child pornography, said Chuck Pelkie, a spokesman for the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Investigators found digital videos and photographs on an external computer hard drive that were obtained as part of the sexual abuse investigation, Pelkie said in a statement.
On June 13, Stephenson was charged with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse after a weeklong investigation, officials said.
He is being held in lieu of bail, which was set at $750,000 but raised to $900,000 by a Will County judge Thursday after a request by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Stephenson had been a coach in soccer programs in the Frankfort, Joliet and Plainfield areas, police said. Ken Kaupus, a spokesman for the Will County Sheriff’s Office, said Stephenson had coached several sports for the Christian Youth League in Joliet, but it had primarily been soccer.
Police were not saying if the victim was a member of a soccer team coached by Stephenson, but Kaupas said that Stephenson had “been in the company of the child on several occasions.”
Stephenson was a volunteer assistant boys’ volleyball coach at Plainfield Central High School in spring 2007 and a paid assistant coach for the boys volleyball team in spring 2008, said Plainfield D202 District spokesman Tom Hernandez. He also served as a student teacher at Aux Sable Middle School during the 2008-09 school year, Hernandez said.
Police also are investigating whether Stephenson may have had “inappropriate” contact with any other children and are asking for the public’s help in determining that. Call police at 815-727-8574 if you have any further information.
Stephenson’s next court date is July 5.
If convicted, Stephenson faces 3-7 years in prison for the aggravated child pornography charge and 2-5 years for the child pornography charge. The sexual abuse charge carries at least a three-year prison sentence.
Source:triblocal
Tags: Darrell J. Stephenson, Will County soccer coach faces molestation and porn charges
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