Former Will County high school teacher hit with federal child pornography charges

A former Will County high school teacher now faces federal child pornography charges for allegedly taking a graphic photo of a 14-year-old boy she is accused of sexually abusing over several months last year.

The criminal complaint against Dana Chidester was unsealed in federal court in Chicago Wednesday.

Federal authorities allege that Chidester and the teen started their relationship in September 2018 and began engaging in sexual acts soon after.

Chidester resigned from Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood last January after she was charged with grooming and sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy, according to the Joliet Herald-News. The feds didn’t say if it’s the same victim in both cases.

Her attorney did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday.

According to an affidavit, Chidester told Will County authorities in January that the two engaged in sexual activity twice a week — at her home, in her car and at hotels near west suburban Oak Brook — until late December 2018.

Chidester and the victim were in constant contact over that time, authorities allege. Chidester texted the boy nearly 6,200 times and called him on 261 occasions. The victim texted her almost 3,600 times and called her 120 times.

After getting a warrant, authorities say, police found a graphic photo of the victim on Chidester’s phone that showed the boy lying face-up on the floor, exposing his genitals.

Authorities interviewed the victim last month and asked him about the photo, which Chidester allegedly took of him while the two were in her bedroom.

“Law enforcement asked Victim A if he knew why Chidester took the photograph. Victim A responded: ‘She said I looked hot,’” the affidavit says.

Authorities say the two exchanged other graphic photos, as well. Chidester also bought the teen a robe and skateboard.

An administrator at the victim’s high school told Will County authorities that the victim “had a romantic relationship with Chidester’s child, who attended the same high school as Victim A.”