Downers Grove gymnastics coach faces child porn, sexual abuse charges

This article has been updated to include a statement from the gymnastics business where Wyatt Kopka worked, and more information about the charges he faces.

An instructor at a Downers Grove gymnastics business has been charged with child pornography-related crimes and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Wyatt Kopka, 30, of the 5700 block of Concord Lane in Clarendon Hills, has been indicted on 11 counts of possession and manufacturing or producing child pornography, according to DuPage County court records and a news release from the DuPage County sheriff's office.

He was arrested on May 10 on five charges of possession of child pornography. Further investigation led the DuPage state's attorney to file the other charges. He was indicted on all charges on June 7.

Authorities say Kopka has worked for about 10 years coaching children ages 2 to 17. They say he is also known as Shannon D. Kopka. The news release did not name the gymnastics business.

But Elite Sports Complex of Downers Grove has confirmed Kopka worked for it. The business issued a statement saying that it does annual background checks and that nothing came up on a 2021 check of Kopka. It said Kopka no longer works there.

"DuPage County investigators have assured us that they have found no evidence that any criminal or improper physical offense took place at our gym. However, they are investigating whether Kopka engaged in inappropriate or possible criminal communication with several of our gymnastics students away from our facility. There are no words to describe our great concern for our students and their families and our deep sense of betrayal," the gym's statement said.

Besides the child porn possession charges that were filed on May 4, he is charged with making videos and a photograph of child pornography on April 16. The aggravated criminal sexual abuse also happened on April 16, according to court records.

Investigators from the sheriff's Digital Forensic Investigation Unit and Clarendon Hills police searched Kopka's home on May 4. The images were found on electronic devices, according to the news release.

He is being held on $600,000 bail at the DuPage County jail and would need to post $60,000 to be freed pretrial. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 47 to 120 years in prison.

Authorities say that anyone with information related to this case should call investigators at (630) 407-2312.