A Gurnee-area school teacher has been charged with possessing and disseminating child pornography, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.
Todd Fowler, 47, a teacher at Woodland Elementary School in Gages Lake, was arrested Thursday after police conducted a search warrant at his house in the 300 block of Buckingham Drive.
During the search, police took possession of the electronic device Fowler is accused of using to send illicit images, police said.
Police also said that Fowler was sharing photos of area children posted to social media sites by their parents.
The sheriff’s office said it received a tip from a social media company that one of its users shared child pornography with another user. After an investigation, police said they determined that Fowler’s residence was the likely source of the transmission.
“This is a despicable crime — especially when committed by someone entrusted to be a positive influence on our youth,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “The actions of one individual do not reflect the thousands of hardworking, dedicated teachers and educators in our community.”
The sheriff’s office said Woodland School District 50 has cooperated during the investigation. Police are asking parents to talk to their children to see if they have been in contact with Fowler, and if so to contact the sheriff’s office at (847) 377-4000.
Lake County prosecutors have filed a petition seeking to have Fowler held in jail until trial, the sheriff’s office said.
