From the U.S. Attorney:
STEPHENSON COUNTY TEACHER INDICTED FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
ROCKFORD — A Stephenson County teacher was indicted on Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Rockford for sexual exploitation of children.
COLLIN T. ZIER, 39, of Lena, Ill., was charged with
- one count of producing child pornography,
- one count of transporting child pornography,
- one count of receiving child pornography, and
- one count of possessing child pornography.
Zier was employed at Orangeville High School when he sexually exploited a minor in 2024, the charges allege.
Zier has been on administrative leave since September 2024.
The count of producing child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
The counts of transporting child pornography and receiving child pornography carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The count of possessing child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000.
If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit here.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging here or calling 1-800-843-5678.
The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
