Police: Normal man facing child porn, sexual assault charges was a piano teacher, victim was student

Posted on July 16, 2021
Michael Schneider. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The man who is facing 139 child pornography and sexual assault charges was a piano teacher, the Normal Police Department chief said Friday.

Michael Schneider, 33, of Normal, apparently turned himself in on Wednesday. A grand jury handed up indictments earlier this week.

Normal Police said they started investigating Michael Schneider, 33, this past spring when a teen reported Schneider had an inappropriate relationship with her.

NPD Chief Rick Bleichner said the teenage victim was a piano student of Schneider.

The investigation is ongoing, Bleichner said, but it has not revealed any additional victims.

Anyone with information is being asked to call the NPD at 309-454-9535.

Schneider faces 131 child porn charges, and six counts of criminal sexual assault against a minor between the ages of 13-17.

One of the misdemeanor charges alleges Schneider enticed a child to remove clothing, while the other misdemeanor is for distributing explicit material to a minor.

To be released from jail before his trial, Schneider has come up with 10% of his bond, which is $200,000.

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