Dupage Policy Journal

An alleged case of child pornography involving a former Addison Public Library employee has stirred concerns as reports reveal he continued working next to children for months after police were alerted to his behavior. 

Steven Krage, the 32-year-old suspect, was under investigation as of Jan. 31, yet he remained employed until his arrest on April 24.

Krage, an Addison resident, faces seven felony counts of child pornography following his arrest. 

Allegedly, more than 100 child pornographic files were discovered on his phone. Vulgar messages concerning young children were also found. 

The investigation began after the State's Attorney General’s office notified Addison police of child pornography files uploaded to accounts linked to Krage. 

Questions have arisen about why Krage was allowed to continue working at the library, in close proximity to children, while under suspicion.

For many, the case underscores broader questions about how such situations are handled and highlights the need for transparency and accountability in safeguarding the community.

Despite inquiries from DuPage Policy Journal, the Addison Police, and specifically Chief of Police Roy Selvik, have not responded to requests regarding the timeline of the case.

In response to a public records request, Library Director Mary Medjo Me Zengue confirmed Krage's termination, stating that his employment was recently terminated. 

“Steven Krage's employment with the library was terminated this month,” Medjo Me Zengue said in an email response to the request. 

“His final rate of pay was $21.00 per hour. Steven Krage was hired by the Addison Public Library on January 7, 2015 as a Shelver. On October 4, 2015, he was promoted to the position of Materials Management Clerk. On September 12, 2022, he moved into the position of Materials Management Acquisitions Clerk. On October 3, 2023, his job title was changed to Acquisitions Associate. (His job duties did not change with this change in job title.)” 

Medjo Me Zengue had sought to keep the arrest quiet. 

"As we feared, the press has picked up on the arrest of our employee this week. The Daily Herald published a story late this afternoon, reporting that Steven Krage is an employee of the Addison Public Library," she wrote in an email. "We were prepared for this, and the attached press release has been sent to multiple local media outlets. We had it prepared but were not planning to use it unless this became a news story."

Krage, a graduate of Addison Trail H.S. and College of DuPage, has removed references to his former employment at the Addison Public Library from his LinkedIn profile, now identifying himself as a "freelance musician, composer and author." 

Meanwhile, the library continues to carry several of his self-published books, including "The Mistakes of a Better World: an Informal Memoir, of Sorts," a 521-page collection of essays and a Stephen King-inspired short story, personally signed by Krage, added to the collection on Nov. 7, 2023.

Due to the nature of the alleged crimes and concerns about potential contact with children, Krage has been detained pretrial by DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden. 

Dieden expressed concerns about Krage's potential access to the internet and the risk of incidental contact with children at his workplace or residence.

The Addison Public Library has assured residents that Krage’s duties did not directly involve interaction with patrons. 

Krage had worked at the library since January 7, 2015, gradually moving up in positions within the Materials Management department.

Medjo Me Zengue previously released a statement on behalf of the library. 

“We are deeply saddened by these developments and want to assure our community that we are taking this matter very seriously. Our priority remains providing a safe and welcoming environment for all patrons and staff members. We ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate this difficult situation together,”  she said.