By 25 News
BLOOMINGTON – A former piano teacher is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday for sexually assaulting a student at his home in Normal.
Authorities confirmed Michael Schnieder, 35, was also a choir director at Bloomington’s St. John’s Lutheran Church. Schneider has been in jail on $2 million bond since his arrest in July of 2021 when prosecutors filed 139 charges, including that he sexually assaulted a piano student who was between 13-and-17 years old.
On Dec. 8, Schneider pleaded guilty to 18 of those counts, sparing the victim from testifying at a trial. Schneider admitted to molesting the teen and having her pose for pornographic pictures.
The state’s attorney’s office is recommending up to 20 years in prison for sex crimes involving the girl, but sentencing Judge William Yoder does not have to follow the recommendation.
Prosecutors have yet to recommend a sentence for Schneider’s guilty pleas on 15 other charges in a separate case alleging he was in possession of child pornography. Schneider can receive probation or up to seven years in prison on most of those charges.
Schneider’s attorney declined comment about the case prior to the sentencing hearing.
This is the second case in recent years in which a McLean County piano teacher was convicted of sex crimes against children.
Last summer, Aaron Parlier was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting two of his students over several years. Similar charges against Parlier involving four other students were dismissed.
