Former Michigan School Janitor Pleads Guilty To Possession Child Pornography
Monday, October 14, 2024, 12:15 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
GRAND RAPIDS, MI.- On Friday, October 11, 2024, Bradley Arkesteyn, 29, of Kent County, Michigan, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan and pleaded guilty before a U.S. District Court Judge to Possession of Child Pornography.
The Judge accepted Arkesteyn’s guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for February 12, 2025. When sentenced, Arkesteyn faces a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison and up to five years of supervised release.
Arkesteyn Admits To Possessing Child Pornography
During Friday’s hearing, Arkesteyn admitted to possessing over 700 digital images of child pornography, including some involving prepubescent children. As described in the charging information, Arkesteyn posted images and videos of child sexual abuse material on a social media platform group called “kiddo only.”
Arkesteyn also communicated privately with an undercover FBI task force agent about a sexual interest in children and his work as a custodian in a Kent County elementary school. Following the communication, law enforcement notified the school district.
“Child exploitation cases are some of our most critical as we work to protect our most vulnerable, our children,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “While thankfully, the evidence in this case did not reveal any hands-on abuse of children, there is everlasting harm suffered by the victims whose images were traded on the internet by Mr. Arkesteyn. I am proud of the law enforcement work to hold him accountable.”
“Today’s conviction of Bradley Arkesteyn sends a stern message to those who commit crimes involving our children that they will be investigated and arrested by members of the FBI and our law enforcement partners in Michigan. Mr. Arkesteyn used his position as a school janitor to feed his sexual interest in children,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan. “The members from FBI Michigan, alongside task force officers from the West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Task Force, worked tirelessly to investigate this crime, and their dedicated work contributed to the conviction of a sexual predator.”
