Former Carbondale teacher aide detained on federal child exploitation charges
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
BENTON, Ill., (KBSI) — A former Carbondale Community High School teacher aide has been ordered detained while facing two federal charges of sexual exploitation of a child.
Austin L. Knoob, 32, of Carbondale appeared in federal court Monday and was ordered detained pending trial by a federal magistrate judge, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois.
Knoob is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child stemming from alleged incidents in August 2025 and April 2026.
According to a criminal complaint filed Aug. 14, Knoob is accused of communicating with a minor and requesting and receiving child sexual abuse material from the victim.
Federal prosecutors allege Knoob also uploaded and sent child sexual abuse material involving the minor to online groups.
Court documents state Knoob was employed as a teacher aide at Carbondale Community High School during the 2025-26 school year.
“The facts alleged in the complaint paint a chilling picture of how online predators create real-world danger across state lines — from a victim identified in Boston to the defendant’s conduct in Carbondale,” U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said.
FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley said investigators are increasingly seeing predators use digital spaces to target children.
“The allegations in this case are deeply troubling, and we will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to protect children and bring to justice anyone who seeks to exploit them,” Presley said.
The FBI’s Marion office is investigating the case with assistance from the FBI’s Boston Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Bloodworth is prosecuting the case.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. Knoob is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
