Former NBE Teacher Sentenced For Child Pornography
John Villmer Jr.
By Pamela Rensing
On August 18, 2023, Jonathan Villmer Jr., a New Baden Elementary first grade teacher, was arrested following a Carmi Police (Carmi, IL) investigation into child pornography and indecent solicitation of a child online.
According to the 2023 report from Carmi Police Chief Jason Carter, Carmi Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigators, Homeland Security Agents, and the New Baden Police Department, executed a search warrant at Villmer’s home in the 400 block of North 9th Street in New Baden. Following the search, he was interviewed by police investigators, and then placed under arrest by Federal agents for the enticement of a minor and child pornography-related offenses.
On Friday, April 26, 2024, an East St. Louis district judge sentenced Villmer Jr. to 10 years imprisonment after he admitted to soliciting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from minors.
Villmer, Jr., 26, will be required to register as a sex offender and serve an additional seven years on supervised release upon his discharge from prison.
Along with teaching first grade, he coached both girls and boys’ Wesclin Junior High sports teams.
U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe stated, “As a teacher and coach, the defendant was entrusted to educate and mentor youth, yet instead he preyed on and exploited his young victims’ vulnerabilities. His predatory behaviors expressed a complete disregard for protecting children but rather abusing them. I’m thankful to the law enforcement agencies who worked to put this dangerous offender in federal prison.”
Sean Fitzgerald, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations Chicago, said, “This sentence sends an important message to all predators: HSI will not allow crimes against children to go unpunished. We will continue to identify and investigate those who pose a threat to our communities. Working with our law enforcement partners, our commitment to aggressively protect children from offenders like Villmer will remain steadfast.”
