Former school janitor sentenced for child pornography

A former janitor at Forest Hills Public Schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for possessing child pornography. Bradley Arkesteyn, 29, pleaded guilty to the charge. The U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker announced the sentence on March 20. Arkesteyn will also face 12 years of supervised release after completing his prison term. The investigation did not find any evidence that he abused students. Five schools were searched for hidden cameras, but no devices were discovered. Authorities reported that Arkesteyn had more than 700 images of child pornography, including those of young children. He also shared these images in a social media group. Investigators said he expressed a sexual interest in children to an undercover FBI agent. Arkesteyn was hired as a janitor in January 2024. He was put on leave two months later when school officials became aware of the allegations against him. He did not have a prior criminal record, and his previous employer found no evidence of misconduct. In addition to his prison sentence, Arkesteyn was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution and $1,000 in fines.