A Mt. Vernon man has been arrested on a Jefferson County warrant charging him with child pornography.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, 54-year-old David E. Edwards was taken into custody Tuesday by Palatine Police. He is being held at the Palatine Police Department, awaiting a pre-trial detention hearing and transfer back to Jefferson County. Edwards, a Spanish teacher at Mt. Vernon Township High School has since been placed on administrative leave. Superintendent Chad LeCrone released a statement Thursday afternoon confirming the leave and noting the district will conduct its own investigation.
The warrant stemmed from an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Detective Division, which is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The investigation began July 14 after a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. That tip led to several search warrants for electronic devices, data, and ultimately Edwards’ Mt. Vernon home.
Authorities say multiple items of evidence were collected and seized during the searches. Following completion of the investigation, the case was reviewed by the State’s Attorney’s Office, which secured the arrest warrant for Edwards.
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