New charges have been filed against Andrew "Drew" Miller, a Chiddix Junior High teacher and longtime cheerleading coach accused of soliciting sexual images and video from minors and, in at least one instance, attempting to meet in person.
McLean County Assistant State's Attorney Aaron Fredrick previously noted the state's intention to bring additional charges against 41-year-old Miller, from Normal, who has been detained since his arrest in June on 42 felony counts.
In a hearing last month determining whether Miller would remain jailed awaiting trial, Fredrick said an additional victim had come forward since the initial grand jury indictment leading to Miller's arrest, and that they would be seeking the 14 additional counts now added to his case. The new counts are Class 3 felonies.
In his statements, Fredrick alleged a decade-long pattern of behavior involving the solicitation of graphic photos and videos from minors who, in most instances, believed they were sending them to someone else. Prosecutors said police used metadata and file names tied to images in Miller's phone and flash drive to identify more than a dozen victims, some beyond the statute of limitations, who identified themselves in the materials and, in most cases, said they thought they'd been sent to a teenage girl named "Tiffany" online. Prosecutors allege Miller reached out to teenage boys he met at Chiddix or cheerleading functions and posed as "Tiffany" to exchange the imagery and engage in sexual conversations.
Miller is the second teacher from Chiddix Junior High facing criminal charges relating to inappropriate conduct with minors at the middle school in Normal. Brandon Knapp was in court this week and will potentially face trial beginning Sept. 14 after being arrested in April on two counts of grooming.
Miller was originally scheduled for his next court appearance on July 29.
WGLT has reached out to the state's attorney 's office and Miller's attorney for comment.
