Clarendon Hills Coach Arrested On Child Porn Charges

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – A Clarendon Hills man who has coached gymnastics for children for the last decade was arrested on child pornography charges, authorities said Wednesday.

Wyatt Kopka, 30, of the 5700 block of Concord Lane, was charged with five felony counts of possession of child pornography. He is being held on a $600,000 bond.

He was said to have worked under the name Shannon D. Kopka.

He coached gymnastics for children from 2 to 17 in unincorporated Downers Grove, according to a news release from the DuPage County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's detectives and Clarendon Hills police officers executed a search warrant at Kopka's home May 4, the release said. That followed an internet investigation into the possession and distribution of child pornography files, the Sheriff's Office said.

Kopka was arrested May 10. Afterward, officers conducted an analysis of his electronic items, authorities said.

On Tuesday, Kopka was indicted on seven additional counts involving the manufacture and production of child pornography, the Sheriff's Office said.

He faces up to 47 and 120 years in prison, the release said.

"These are very heinous and sensitive cases, when the suspect is a person of trust and influence, that require a certain finesse as the allegations likely affect entire families and communities," Sheriff James Mendrick said in the release.