Former District 304 Substitute Teacher Accused of Soliciting Girl, 16

A substitute teacher has worked in recent months at two suburban school districts faces charges for allegedly trying to lure a 16-year-old girl into a sexual relationship by exchanging messages on an internet chat website.

Keith A. Aarseth, 60, of 6N325 Whitemore Circle Unit E in Saint Charles, has been charged with traveling to meet a minor, grooming and indecent solicitation of a child, all felony charges, in Cook County, according to a press release from the Mount Prospect Police Department. Authorities have said the current charges against Aarseth, a substitute teacher for Elgin Area School District U6 and Geneva Community Unit School District 304, do not involve any students, according to the Chicago Tribune.

School officials from both school districts said Aarseth underwent a background check before he started work as a substitute teacher, according to the Chicago Tribune. District 304 told parents in an alert sent on Friday that Aarseth has been “removed for our substitute pool.”

Police in Mount Prospect launched an investigation in recent weeks after they learned an adult male had been communicating with the 16-year-old girl through an internet chat service website. He arranged to meet the juvenile in Mount Prospect to engage in sexual activity on February 15 but the teen girl never showed up, according to a news release.

The man again arranged to meet the juvenile at a park in Mount Prospect on February 21. Mount Prospect Police Investigators, who had been monitoring the juvenile’s account, went to the park on Feb. 21. There they found Aarseth, who they identified as the man who had arranged the meeting through a photograph he had sent the juvenile via e-mail, according to a news release.

Aarseth was taken into custody and later allegedly admitted he sent messages of a sexual nature to the juvenile and had arranged to meet her in Mount Prospect on two separate occasions to engage in sexual activity, according to police.

"Cases like these are reminders for parents to be engaged with their children about risks associated with the internet," said Mount Prospect Police Chief Tim Janowick. "We strongly encourage parents to have conversations with their children about relationships, internet safety, and the willingness to have an open door for discussions."

Police are also asking anyone with additional information that may be helpful to this investigation to call the Mount Prospect Police Department at 847-818-5239.

Bond was set last week at $125,000 last week. In addition, Aarseth has been prohibited from having any contact with the victim and anyone under the age of 18 and also can not use the internet or cell phones

He is next expected in court on March 16 in the 3rd District Courthouse of Cook County in Rolling Meadows.

Photo via Mount Prospect Police