Dakota (Kody) M. Czerwonka

Mugshot of Dakota (Kody) M. Czerwonka

MONTROSE, Ill. (WAND) - A teacher and school founder who was arrested and charged with grooming and sexually exploiting a child has been charged with 10 additional counts of child pornography.

Court records stated that 32-year-old Dakota (Kody) Czerwonka of Montrose pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Czerwonka was previously arrested Jan. 9 after Effingham police said they got a report about inappropriate electronic messages involving a child. 

He was the founder and a teacher at Crossroads Montessori School, located in the Lincolnland Building in Effingham. 

Additionally, he appeared in court Jan. 29 and was denied pretrial release. 

Czerwonka will have a pre-trial hearing at 9 a.m. April 9. 

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