Published on November 5, 2026 9:31 am
Last Updated on November 5, 2026 9:31 am
A former Effingham County teacher who was arrested in January for inappropriately communicating with a student and possessing child pornography has pleaded guilty to some of the charges against him.
33 year old Dakota M. Czerwonka of Montrose pleaded guilty to one count each of grooming and sexual exploitation of a child, both Class 4 felonies, and three counts of child pornography, all of which are class 2 felonies.
Seven other Class 2 felony charges of child pornography were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
Records show that Czerwonka was ordered to undergo a sex offender evaluation and he will remain in custody, pending the sentencing. A status hearing has been scheduled for December 3rd.
Czerwonka, the founder and teacher of Crossroads Montessori School in Effingham, was arrested earlier this year after police received a tip that he had been sending “inappropriate electronic messages” to a student.
