Dupage Policy Journal

Former Naperville 203 employee Jeffrey Wickman for allegedly trading in child pornography.

Wickman, 33, of 25W200 block of Concord Road, Naperville, was issued an arrest warrant on Nov. 15 and turned himself in on Nov. 18. He is currently free after posting a $250,000 bond. 

“Child pornography is vile, abusive to thousands of young children and is not a victimless crime with each one of these disgusting images representing yet another victim,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said in a press release. 

“The charges filed against Mr. Wickman sends the message that law enforcement in DuPage County will aggressively and proactively pursue child pornographers wherever they may lurk.” 

“I want to stress, however, that these charges are in no way connected with Mr. Wickman’s association with Naperville School District 203. Authorities at the school have been exceedingly cooperative and for that I thank them. I also thank the Naperville Police Department for their efforts on not only this case but for their ongoing efforts into identifying and locating suspected child pornographers. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorney Alyssa Rabulinski for her work in securing strong charges against Mr. Wickman.” 

Berlin’s press release notes a number of conditions to Wickman's release and the circumstances surrounding his arrest. 

“Judge John Kinsella granted the State’s motion for additional conditions of bond which includes: no contact with any minor under the age of eighteen; refrain from entering any Naperville School District 203 buildings or grounds; stay 1,000 feet away from any school or park; have software installed on his electronic devices to monitor his online activities; not consume any controlled substances, including cannabis and submit to testing; and not possess any firearms, firearm ammunition, firearm parts, FOID or conceal carry card,” the press release reads. 

“Through the course of their continuing efforts into combating child pornography, investigators from the Naperville Police Department received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an IP address possibly engaging in child pornography. Based upon this information and following the execution of a search warrant, it is alleged that a search of Wickman’s Google Drive account yielded child pornography. It is further alleged that following a search warrant executed at Wickman’s home on November 1, 2022, authorities found cached images of child pornography on Wickman’s electronic devices.”

Former Naperville 203 employee charged with child pornography: ‘Refrain from entering any Naperville School District 203 buildings or grounds’

The arrest comes after a scandal earlier this year in which a parent outed a Naperville 203 teacher, who was known to wear fingernail polish to class and encourage students to contemplate changing their pronouns, for reading aloud to his class a novel in which a father instructs his son how to wear a dress.

Naperville 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges noted his disagreement with the characterization of that instance but failed to point out any inaccuracies. Bridges has yet to make a public statement on Wickman’s arrest.

Wirepoints reported Naperville 203 pays salaries averaging nearly six figures for teachers, annual raises between three and four percent and provides other benefits such as subsidized insurance and pensions despite slipping performance. The teachers' union recently signed a new contract with Naperville 203.