Child Porn Sentence For Joliet American Legion Band's Ex-Leader

JOLIET, IL — Joliet resident Kevin Macha, the former Reed-Custer music teacher and director of the Joliet American Legion Band, pleaded guilty this week and was sentenced to two years probation for possession of child pornography. Macha is required to register as a convicted sex offender as part of his sentence.

Macha, 29, had no prior criminal history when he was sentenced in front of long-time Will County Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak in Courtroom 404. Online court records indicate that one of Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow's assistant prosecutors, Daniel Egan, asked the judge to dismiss the two remaining child porn possession charges against Macha.

Macha, who lives in the 700 block of Raub Street, was given credit for the three days he spent in the Will County Jail last December. Although Will County's online filings may give the impression that Macha was sentenced to 180 days of jail, his jail sentence was actually suspended.

If Macha follows the rules during the next two years of his probation term, he likely won't serve any time in jail.

Macha was ordered to pay fines and court costs of $4,524 as part of his sex offender probation order.

Last December, Joliet Patch reported that the 28-year-old Joliet resident was arrested by the Will County Sheriff's Office on charges of child pornography.

"Today, a search warrant was executed at the Raub Street address and Macha was brought in for questioning," sheriff's officials announced at the time. "During the interview, Macha made incriminating statements and was ultimately arrested. Numerous electronic devices were seized during the search warrant and are currently being examined. Macha is being held at the Adult Detention Facility where he will appear in bond court tomorrow."

The sheriff's press release noted that Macha directed the Joliet American Legion Band and had worked the past four years in Braidwood at Reed-Custer School District 255 where he taught the subject of music in grades five through eight.

Macha was represented by private criminal defense counsel Donald DeWilkins of Orland Park.

These days, Macha is no longer affiliated with Reed-Custer or Joliet's American Legion Band.