Ex-Teacher Accused Of Sexual Contact With 14-Year Old Boy

MANHATTAN, IL – A former teacher at Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood was charged Thursday on accusations she had sexual contact and sent messages and photos to a 14-year-old boy. The victim is not a student at the school, according to the Will County State's Attorney's Office.

Manhattan police, who teamed with the State's Attorney's High Technology Crimes Unit and the Will County Sheriff's Office in the investigation, arrested 50-year-old Dayna Chidester at her home in the 25400 block of Oconnel Lane. Chidester has been charged with six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, one count of indecent solicitation of a child and one count of unlawful grooming.

Bond was set at $1 million when Chidester appeared in court on Friday. She faces up to seven years in prison for each count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, up to five years for indecent solicitation and up to three years for unlawful grooming if convicted, the State's Attorney's office said.

If Chidester is able to post bond, which would be $100,000 as 10 percent applies, she will not be allowed to have contact with any minors outside her immediate family members nor be allowed from entering any school grounds.

Also, she will be prohibited from using the internet or any device with internet capabilities and must turn over her passport.

Photo via Will County State's Attorney's Office