Niles North teacher, coach charged with child exploitation

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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:08AM

A Niles North High School teacher and cheerleading coach was arrested last week in Bensenville and charged with sexual exploitation of a child for allegedly making a girl strip for him, police said.

Jeffrey L. Tackes, 30, of the 400 block of South Addison Street in Bensenville, was arrested Feb. 13 on a misdemeanor count of sexual exploitation of a child, Bensenville police said in a release.

Police allege he coerced a girl younger than 17 years old to remove her clothing for his gratification, the release said.

Tackes is a math teacher and cheerleading coach at Niles North High School, and has been suspending from both his teaching and coaching jobs pending the outcome of the investigation, according to a statement from Niles North High School District 219.

Skokie police said the incident in question did not happen on any District 219 property, or in Skokie.

The school said it is working with the state’s Department of Children and Family Services, Skokie police and Bensenville police and has been in contact with students and parents who might have any relevant information, according to the statement.

“I remind everyone that our number one priority is the safety and security of our students,” Niles North princial Ryan McTague said in the statement.

Tackes is also affiliated with Cheer Illinois Athletics, a cheerleading training facility in Bensenville, according to the police release. A representative for the facility could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning.

—Sun-Times
and Mike Isaacs