Nathan Arger, the 32-year-old LaGrange Park resident and part-time Lyons Township High School employee charged with possessing and transporting child pornography, pleaded not guilty in front of Judge Amy St. Eve in Illinois District court on Nov. 2.
Arger was arrested Sept. 22 when FBI agents raided his home and reported finding more than 1,000 images of child pornography, including images of Arger with two prepubescent girls, one of whom was partially naked, according to the federal criminal complaint.
On Oct. 19, Arger was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with distributing child pornography and possessing child pornography. The indictment states that federal agents seized a desktop computer, laptop computer and an external hard drive from Arger’s home.
Arger posted $100,000 bond and remains under home confinement awaiting trial. St. Eve also ordered Arger to undergo mental health counseling while awaiting a Dec. 19 status hearing.
Arger was placed on unpaid administrative leave from his job as a part-time, non-faculty staff member of the Lyons Township High School radio and television stations. At the time of his arrest, Arger was employed by the school for about a year.
The FBI stated at the time of Arger’s arrest that he is not suspected of any illegal activity involving LTHS students or the school’s technology equipment.
-Bob Uphues
