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A Downers Grove South High School track coach resigned Wednesday following allegations he paid young girls for giving him revealing pictures and videos of themselves, according to school district officials.
Glenn Clifford Messmer, 46, was found in possession of child pornography, according to a statement from Community High School District 99 Superintendent Hank Thiele that was addressed to students, staff and families.
Messmer, of Darien, has been charged with possession of child pornography, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
It wasn’t clear how authorities discovered Messmer’s alleged crimes.
Messmer, who was an assistant girls track coach from April 13, 2021, until Wednesday, when he resigned, was not a full-time employee, and no students are believed to be victims, the statement said.
Messmer also volunteered as a track coach in spring 2019 at Downers Grove South H.S. and Downers Grove North H.S. and volunteered at Downer’s Grove South’s track summer camp in 2020, the statement said.
According to the complaint, Messmer used at least two screen names: “JJ” and “Corey.” He told authorities he had communicated and “solicited” between 30 to 60 underage girls via Snapchat and Telegram, and paid them between $20-$50 for sexually explicit videos and pictures.
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Messmer said he made up to $2,000 in payments.
Agents interviewed two victims, ages 13 and 14. The 14-year-old said she began exchanging pictures and videos with him in midsummer 2022, adding it happened as often as once a week, according to the complaint.
According to the complaint, Messmer sent sexually suggestive messages, sometimes “long” ones, describing what he wanted to see them do. If he didn’t receive what he asked for, he would not Venmo any money.
“Would love to see you smile as much as possible I love your smile,” Messmer said in one of the messages, according to the complaint.
On Tuesday, federal agents executed a search warrant at his home where they found multiple files containing child pornography that he had allegedly downloaded from the internet, according to the complaint. The house is owned by his parents.
Messmer, who told federal authorities he is a track coach who trains athletes and runs a business on eBay selling Legos and other items, was not a teacher at District 99 like all district employees and he passed a background check before he interacted with any District 99 students, according to the district and the complaint.
Thiele, in the statement, urged anyone with concerns about Messmer or anyone who is aware of anything inappropriate occurring, to reach out to the district.
