GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Forest Hills Public Schools employee was arrested for child pornography, among other things, according to a federal complaint.
28-year-old Bradley Arkesteyn is an FHPS employee hired in January 2023, according to the district, which also says he worked as a cleaner in multiple buildings.
Sources tell FOX 17 Arkesteyn worked in the following buildings: Meadowbrook Elementary, Collins Elementary, Northern Trails 5/6 School, and Northern Hills Middle School. The source says Arkesteyn was often in the cafeteria while elementary school students were having lunch.
The Kent County Prosecutor's office says Arkesteyn has been investigated in the past for Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 4th degree. The investigation took place in 2022. The allegations had nothing to do with children and there was no allegation of any touching, so there was no crime to proceed on and charges were denied, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
Arkesteyn allegedly spoke with undercover officers in a Kik group chat about his desire to engage in sexual activity with minors.
Forest Hills Public Schools sent the following letter to families Thursday, confirming Arkesteyn's employment with the district:
FHPS Letter to Families 3.21.24 by WXMI on Scribd
Arkesteyn, according to the documents, possessed and distributed explicit images of minor children, specifically young girls.
The federal complaint says that Arkesteyn would regularly interact with second-grade girls at his job in a Kent County elementary school.
He allegedly told law enforcement he smelled the shoes of first- to fourth-grade students at the elementary school where he worked.
FOX 17 spoke with the Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County on Thursday. They say cases like this serve as a reminder about why it's important to talk with your children about body safety.
"Child sexual abuse affects all types of families and all types of communities," Family Advocate with the CAC Emily Kulhanek said. "The more we can normalize those conversations, the more kids and teens will be empowered to understand the dynamics and feel safer to tell."
The CAC knows talking about body safety isn't easy, that's why the organization offers resources for caregivers about how to start the conversation.
The full criminal complaint is seven pages long. It contains disturbing details and can be read in full below.
Arkesteyn Criminal Complaint by WXMI on Scribd
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