New Charges Filed Against D300 Employee In Child Porn Case

ALGONQUIN, IL — Additional charges have been filed against a former Community Unit School District 300 employee accused of soliciting child pornography, electronic harassment and cyberstalking.

• Longtime D300 Employee Faces Child Porn, Intimidation Charges

Donald J. Peters, 34, of Cary,was arrested last month after investigators obtained a search warrant and searched his home. At that time, nine felony counts and three misdemeanor counts of child pornography, intimidation and electronic harassment were filed against Peters.

Last week, additional charges were filed against Peters. In a new criminal case filed in McHenry County Circuit Court, Peters now also faces felony charges of child pornography/soliciting a child under 13 years old, grooming and child luring, according to online court records.

On Sept. 7, Peters entered not guilty pleas to 10 of 12 charges originally filed against him. Two child pornography charges in that case were also dismissed, according to online court records.

Peters recently worked as an attendance and truancy assistant at Westfield Community School for nearly five years, according to his LinkedIn. He is not currently listed as an employee at Westfield on the staff and faculty page of the school's website.

Peters was also the head custodian at Harry D. Jacobs High School from June 2016 to September 2018, and a technology associate at Gary D. Wright School in Hampshire from January 2009 to June 2016, according to his LinkedIn.

Authorities said in July that Peters may have solicited students for their social media accounts while working for District 300. Additional details surrounding why the new charges have been filed were not immediately available.