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  Church Music Director Charged with Child Porn
Roommate Also Arrested in Naperville

Chicago Tribune
January 20, 2010

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/ct-met-0121-child-porn-charge-20100120,0,6569531.story

ILLINOIS -- he music director of a Roman Catholic parish in Glen Ellyn and his roommate have been charged with possession of child pornography.

Brian Milnikel, 45, music director at St. James the Apostle in the western suburb, and Christopher Kontopoulos, 20, both of the 800 block of Nelli Court in Naperville, had bail set at $200,000 and $100,000, respectively, by DuPage County Judge Liam Brennan on Wednesday. The two were arrested Tuesday morning by Naperville police.

Doug Delaney, spokesman for the Roman Catholic diocese of Joliet, said Milnikel was employed by St. James as music director since 2006. According to Delaney, one of Milnikel's responsibilities was leading the church children's choir, which was made up of about a dozen children from first and second grade. Milnikel practiced with the choir three days a month and there was always at least one parent present at the rehearsals, he said.

Milnikel was removed from his position with the church on Tuesday, Delaney said.

Before St. James, Milnikel worked at St. Raphael Church in Naperville as assistant music director from 2004 through 2006.

Delaney said that before hiring Milnikel, the diocese conducted an extensive background and fingerprint check and found no record of child pornography or sexual abuse.

Assistant State's Attorney Brian Perkins told Brennan that police have been investigating Milnikel and Kontopoulos since October.

"They both admitted downloading the videos and that they watched them together," Perkins said.

Barry Lewis, an attorney representing Kontopoulos, told Brennan that if his client posts bail, he was going to move in with his parents in Glenview.

"Your honor, there is a great likelihood that Chris was under the domination of a much older person," Lewis said.

Brennan, as a condition of bail, banned the defendants' use of the Internet and computer, and ordered them not to have contact with anyone under 18 years old.

 
 

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