Ex-Reed-Custer teacher seeks bail reduction

A former teacher at Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood who is charged with sexual abusing a 14-year-old boy remains in the Will County jail while a judge considers a request to lower her $1 million bail.

Dayna Chidester, 50, of Manhattan, is charged with six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count each of indecent solicitation of a child and grooming. Prosecutors said the teen she allegedly abused was not a student at the same school where Chidester until recently worked as a family/ consumer science teacher.

Chidester’s attorney, Steven Haney, argued Thursday that the $1 million bail was excessive. He said Chidester has intestinal, liver and mental health issues and questioned whether the jail could provide proper care.

“A $1 million bond is extremely high,” Haney said.

Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Brown argued that the bail was appropriate given the circumstances of the case. He said Chidester began texting the teen in September and the contact escalated quickly within a month to include various sex acts between the two. At her bond hearing last week, Brown also alleged that the two exchanged nude photos via text messaging. He said child pornography charges may be added pending further investigation.

Haney said Chidester’s family has made arrangements for her to receive mental health treatment if she is released from jail.

Will County Judge David Carlson took the request under advisement. Chidester is scheduled to appear before Carlson again Jan. 29.

According to a statement from Reed-Custer Community Unit School District Superintendent Mark Mitchell, Chidester resigned her position from the high school last week, about two weeks after Braidwood police launched an investigation based on a tip from a parent. The parent told a school resource officer that Chidester had been texting a student about illegal drugs, Mitchell said. No charges have been filed in connection with the Braidwood investigation.

Chidester also taught at Thornwood High School in South Holland before joining Reed-Custer, ac- cording to prosecutors.

Also Thursday, a former Reed-Custer Community Unit School District music teacher and Joliet band director who is charged with possession of child pornography asked Carlson for permission to use the internet to apply for jobs.

Kevin Macha, 28, was arrested last month and charged with three counts of possession of child pornography. Macha was a music teacher at the ReedCuster district and began directing the American Legion Band in Joliet in 2017.

School board members accepted Macha’s resignation Dec. 12 following a letter from the district advising him that school officials would recommend he be dismissed because of his arrest, according to district documents. He taught grades 5 through 12.

Macha’s request to use the internet in his job search was made by his attorney, Donald DeWilkins. As a condition of his bond, Macha is prohibited from going online.

Carlson reassigned the case to Judge Amy BertaniTomczak, who will consider the request. Macha is scheduled to appear in court again Tuesday.

Macha originally is from New Lenox but now lives in Joliet.