Preschool teacher charged with sharing child porn

Bond has been set at $250,000 for a suburban preschool teacher facing felony child pornography charges.

In a statement, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez says Richard Gertler of Oak Park appeared in court Thursday. The 34-year-old is charged with dissemination and possession of child pornography.

Alvarez says Berwyn police began an investigation after receiving information that Gertler was making child pornography available online through a file-sharing program. She says a search of his laptop turned up more than 300 pornographic images of children.

Alvarez says police also found about 25 printed images.

She says Gertler was recently hired as a teacher at a preschool in the Western suburbs.

A telephone listing for Gertler could not be located, and it's unclear if he has an attorney.