ORANGEVILLE, Ill. — Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying any other potential victims following the arrest last week of an Orangeville music teacher on a felony child pornography charge.
Police arrested the defendant, Collin Zier, 38, of Lena, on Thursday, Sept. 5, just before 7:25 p.m., according to a statement from the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office.
Zier was taken into custody — without incident — at a home in the 800 block of Virginia Avenue in Lena, authorities said.
“The apprehension of Collin Zier was for a Stephenson County felony arrest warrant that was issued on 9-5-24 for one count of Child Pornography (moving depiction) which was alleged to have occurred in June of 2024,” a statement from the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office said. “Collin Zier is currently being held at the Stephenson County Jail pending the outcome of a detention hearing.”
The investigation into Zier was initiated by a report filed by an official with Orangeville School District 203 regarding a district employee who “was suspected of communicating with a District student outside of the school using a non-district approved platform.”
An investigation was launched, culminating in Zier’s arrest. But shortly after the arrest, police said they fear the ordeal might not be over.
“At this time, we believe that there may be additional current or former Orangeville School District students who have yet to be interviewed who may have information pertinent to this investigation,” police said. “We would ask that any current or former Orangeville School District students who would like to speak with someone from our Investigations Division to please call 815-235-8252.”
During Zier’s detention hearing Monday, Sept. 9 in Stephenson County Circuit Court, a judge ordered that he remain in Stephenson County Jail pending the charges against him, according to court records. A preliminary hearing for the defendant is set for Thursday, Sept. 12.
Zier is listed as a K-12 music and choir teacher for Orangeville Elementary School on the district’s website, although it did not specify how long he had been teaching in the district.
If convicted of the charge, a Class X Felony in Illinois, Zier would face a possible maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.