COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A CPS elementary school teacher was held on $1 million bail Thursday after authorities said they found more than 100 files of child pornography on his personal laptop.
Most of the files involved lewd sex acts involving children under age 13, according to Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Cooper, who spoke during a bond hearing Thursday.
Eric Shank Van Eenige, a 39-year-old teacher from Canaryville, was arrested Wednesday after an investigation by the Cook County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Cooper said.
Van Eenige is accused of sending more than 100 files of child pornography to an undercover member of the task force. He also had more than 100 files — a mix of videos and photos — on his personal laptop, Cooper said.
Van Eenige has been a teacher at Ariel Elementary Community Academy, 1119 E. 46th St., for the past decade, according to his public defender. As of March 2015, CPS employee files list Van Eenige as a "regular teacher" making $85,207 a year.
Late Thursday, prosecutors released a statement dubbing Van Eenige "an administrative employee at Ariel Community Academy in Chicago." But sources close to the matter said Van Eenige is employed as a teacher. It's not clear which grade or subject he teaches.
Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. on Thursday ordered Van Eenige held in lieu of $1 million bail.
Should Van Eenige post bond, Bourgeois said, he is not allowed within 100 feet of any Chicago Public School buildings. Van Eenige is additionally banned from using a cellphone or the Internet and cannot have contact with any children under the age of 18 — including his 4-year-old daughter.
Cooper said the pornography was found on Van Eenige's personal laptop. His wife told police that Van Eenige is the only person who uses the laptop, and that he brings it with him to work every day, prosecutors said.
Chicago Public Schools said the safety of the children at Ariel is its top priority in the wake of the charges.
"We take any allegations of illegal activity very seriously, and we are taking the appropriate steps to ensure our students are protected," said Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for CPS. "We are cooperating with the Chicago Police Department and cannot comment on an ongoing investigation."
Van Eenige, who lives with his wife and daughter, was charged with two counts of child pornography. His next court date is July 8.
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