An employee at New Berlin Community Unit School District 16 was arrested for aggravated criminal sexual abuse and for child sexual abuse material.
Lindsey Prather, 43, of New Berlin, was arrested and taken to the Sangamon County Jail on March 19. She is awaiting arraignment and a detention hearing, according to a news release from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.
An arrest warrant was issued against Prather for five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of child sexual abuse material.
Prather was a paraprofessional and a coach at the district, superintendent Jill Larson told The State Journal-Register. Larson said she would email email a statement but it was not immediately received.
The school district on April 15, 2025, notified local police of information they received in reference to a school employee engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a minor, according to the release. The investigation was later given to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division.
Detectives worked with the Department of Children and Family Services, the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center, and the Sangamon County States Attorney’s Office to investigate.
Minutes of a special board meeting from Community Unity School District show that the board passed a motion to terminate Prather with a 7-0 vote. The meeting was on April 21, 2025.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: New Berlin paraprofessional, coach charged in child sexual abuse case
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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