EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A former New Baden Elementary School teacher pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in East St. Louis to soliciting child sexual abuse material from minors.

Jonathan C. Villmer, Jr., of New Baden, was charged in August 2023, after obtaining a search warrant for Villmer’s Snapchat account, police discovered explicit conversations with a 13-year-old minor.

Before his arrest, Villmer was a teacher at New Baden Elementary School and coached girls’ sports teams for Wesclin Community Unit School District 3.

The case was initiated by an otherwise unrelated investigation by the Carmi Police Department regarding the distribution of child sexual abuse material or CSAM. The investigation led law enforcement officers to a Snapchat account soliciting CSAM connected to Villmer.

According to court documents, Villmer asked the minor for the “sexiest images,” discussed having sex and taking the minor’s virginity, and requested photographs of her genitals. Law enforcement identified other occurrences of sexually explicit conversations and requests for images with other purported minors within Villmer’s Snapchat account.

Based upon IP address records associated with the Snapchat account, law enforcement connected the account to Villmer. On Aug. 18, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Villmer’s New Baden residence and seized two cell phones and other electronic devices. Villmer was arrested on scene.

Villmer’s sentencing is scheduled for April 24, 2024. His charge carries a minimum of 5 years, and a maximum of up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

Homeland Security Investigations is investigating with support from the New Baden and Carmi Police Departments, and the Jefferson County and Clinton County Sheriffs’ Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns is prosecuting the case.

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