Bloomington Police have arrested a Chiddix Junior High teacher on charges of grooming and possessing child sexual abuse material, four months after officers executed a search warrant in his classroom.
Police spokesperson Bryce Janssen said a warrant was issued for Andrew “Drew” Miller, 40, of Normal following a grand jury indictment. Officers from the department’s street crimes unit pulled Miller over at a traffic stop at Hamilton Road and Bunn Street. He was taken into custody at 1:12 p.m.
Janssen said prosecutors are seeking 42 counts against Miller: one count of indecent solicitation of child, one count of grooming and 40 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material. Janssen said that includes video and photographic images.
Miller is expected to appear at a detention hearing Thursday afternoon in McLean County court.
Janssen said Bloomington Police launched an investigation into Miller on Feb. 9 after a victim reported they had exchanged photographs with Miller. The photos were alleged to be sexual in nature and were sent when the victim was a minor, while Miller held a position of trust or authority, police said.
On Feb. 18, officers executed multiple search warrants in the investigation, including a search of Miller's classroom during the school day. Unit 5 said the school was placed on a soft lockdown, where students and staff were held in place during the search.
Police said investigators seized several electronic devices and had them forensically analyzed by the department's cyber crimes unit. Police identified at least five additional victims during the investigation.
The district informed families that Miller had been removed from the classroom “for the foreseeable future.”
Miller, who taught seventh-grade science and language arts, was placed on paid administrative leave.
Police spokesperson Bryce Janssen said a warrant was issued for Andrew “Drew” Miller, 40, of Normal following a grand jury indictment on Wednesday morning. Officers from the department’s street crimes unit pulled Miller over at a traffic stop at Hamilton Road and Bunn Street. He was taken into...
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