DuPage County prosecutors arrested a 30-year-old Clarendon Hills man — who worked as a children's gymnastics coach in Downers Grove — on multiple child pornography charges.
The DuPage County Sheriff's Office said Wyatt Kopka, who also worked under the name of Shannon Kopka, was charged with multiple counts of possession and production of child pornography.
Police said Kopka is in custody, where he is being held on $600,000 bond.
On May 4, the Clarendon Hills Police Department and the DuPage County Sheriff's Office Digital Forensic Investigation Unit executed a search warrant of Kopka's home.
Police alleged that the search revealed the presence of child pornography files on Kopka's electronic devices.
Police said that they took Kopka into custody on May 10, but the investigation continued.
Following further investigation of Kopka's devices, police said, DuPage County prosecutors indicted Kopka with additional counts related to crimes against children, including the alleged manufacture or production of child pornography.
Clarendon Hills police said that Kopka had pornographic images of at least two underage teen boys he knew, including one of Kopka's gymnasts. Investigators said there was also evidence that the coach might have been trying to lure other underage victims.
In a statement, Elite Sports Complex said it was "devastated" over the arrest of Kopka, a former employee. The company said investigators have not yet found evidence that any criminal or improper physical offense happened at its gym.
But investigators were probing "inappropriate or possible criminal communication with several of our gymnastics students away from our facility," the company said.
"There are no words to describe our great concern for our students and their families and our deep sense of betrayal," the company said.
"Elite's focus has always been on the well-being and safety of our participants and their families. All of our coaches, including former employee Wyatt Kopka, undergo routine background checks and safety training. In Kopka's case, we followed AAU guidelines for coaches and did background checks every year. The most recent one was done in 2021 and nothing negative came up," the company said.
Kopka will face the charges at his next court appearance, which police said is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday. According to prosecutors, Kopka could face up to 120 years in prison if convicted.
Sun-Times Media Wire contributed
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