Crystal Lake South teacher charged with soliciting sex in prostitution sting

CRYSTAL LAKE – A longtime Crystal Lake South teacher was arrested this week and charged with soliciting sex during a prostitution sting in Rockford.

Brian Akers, 46, of Woodstock, was charged with solicitation of a sexual act by Rockford police who executed a "reverse" prostitution sting Tuesday night and Wednesday morning that resulted in the arrest of eight men. Akers is believed to have responded to a fake prostitution advertisement police placed online.

District spokesman Jeff Puma said Akers has been placed on paid administrative leave while the district investigates the incident. Puma stressed that no students or faculty other than Akers were involved or harmed and that the alleged incident took place off campus and not during school hours.

As part of the administrative leave, Akers will not be allowed access to any of the district’s online systems or servers and will not be able to enter the school building.

Akers has more than 20 years of teaching experience at District 155 and is making a salary of more than $110,000, according to recent salary reports. He has taught Advanced Placement biology and was a longtime wrestling coach for the Crystal Lake South Gators, but he is no longer coaching. Akers has no other extracurricular roles at the school, Puma said.

Also arrested in the prostitution sting was Marengo resident Jeffrey J. Zintl, 52, of Pleasant Grove Road. Zintl also was charged with resisting arrest.