Child Porn Charges Filed Against Soccer Coach Accused of Sexual Abuse

Darrell Stephenson, the 24-year-old soccer coach accused of having sexual contact with a 12-year-old boy, was slapped with fours counts of child pornography on top of the two charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse he already faces.

The Will County state's attorney's office announced the new charges in a press release issued Thursday afternoon. 

It was also revealed Thursday that Stephenson had been a student teacher at Aux Sable Middle school in Plainfield in spring 2008, a volunteer assistant boys volleyball coach in spring 2007 and a paid assistant boys volleyball coach in spring 2008, Plainfield School District 202 spokesman Tom Hernandez said.

He has not had any involvement with the district since 2008, Hernandez said.

The new charges filed against Stephenson -- three counts of aggravated child pornography and one count of child pornography -- stem from digital videos and digital photographs found on an external computer hard drive in Stephenson's home at 2038 Manico Court, Crest Hill. The Will County sheriff's office executed a search warrant to go through Stephenson's house on June 10, the same day he was arrested on the sexual abuse charges.

Stephenson has been held in the Will County jail on $750,000 bond since June 10. With $150,000 more added to his bond Thursday in light of the latest charges, he would need to produce $90,000 bail before he could be released pending trial. His next court date is July 5.

Someone convicted of aggravated child pornography or aggraved criminal sexual abuse, both Class 2 felonies, could be sentenced to three to seven years in prison or probation on each count. Child pornography is a Class 3 felony that carries a two- to five-year prison term or probation.

The Will County sheriff's office asks that anyone with information that could assist the ongoing investigation contact them at 815-727-8574.