Former Braidwood music teacher pleads guilty to child pornography

A former Braidwood teacher pleaded guilty to possessing a digital image showing a naked boy “bound and blindfolded” and was sentenced to two years of sex offender probation, court records show.

On Tuesday, Kevin W. Macha, 29, of the 700 block of Raub Street in Joliet, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography while two other counts were dismissed, according to court records.

Macha worked as a music teacher for Reed-Custer School District 255 in Braidwood until he resigned Dec. 19. He also worked as a director of the Joliet American Legion Band.

Macha pleaded guilty to possessing a digital image on Dec. 4 that showed the bound, naked boy portrayed as someone subject to “sadistic, masochistic, sadomasochistic abuse,” according to the bill of indictment.

Will County State’s Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Carole Cheney said prosecutors requested a prison sentence between two to five years for Macha while his attorney, Donald DeWilkins, requested sex offender probation, which includes lifetime sex offender registration.

Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak gave Macha probation and a 180-day suspended jail sentence, according to court records.

Cheney said that if Macha completes his probation, he will not have to serve the 180 days in jail.

Macha served three days in jail after his arrest Dec. 4.

He was released from jail after his father posted 10% of his $200,000 bond.

Macha must serve two years of sex offender probation, which requires him to complete sex offender treatment, have no contact with children except his own and register as a sex offender with a local police agency.