Grand Jury Indicts Former School Janitor Accused Of Possession Of Child Pornography

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a Grand Jury indicted Bradley Arkesteyn, 28, of Rockford, for possessing child pornography. Arkesteyn was previously charged by criminal complaint, and he has been detained by the Court since March 20, 2024.  Arkesteyn is set for arraignment on April 24, 2024.

          “My office will always fight to protect the most vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Every image of child exploitation is a crime, whether possessed, viewed, or distributed.  My team will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable.”

          As described in more detail in the criminal complaint, Arkesteyn allegedly posted images and videos of child pornography in a social media group called “kiddo only.” Arkseteyn also allegedly communicated privately with an undercover FBI task force officer about a sexual interest in children and his work as a custodian in an elementary school. The relevant school district has been notified.

          “I am grateful to our dedicated agents and task force officers from the Western Michigan Based Crimes Against Children Task Force (WEBCHEX) for their investigative work on this case,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Today's indictment is a testament to the FBI and task force officers’ daily work to combat sexual exploitation, particularly against minors. Those who engage in such crimes will face justice.”

          This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. The case is being investigated by the FBI.

          The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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