GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, July 11, 2023) – A 47-year-old Walker man assigned to work at Holland High School is behind bars.
Jeremy Jonathan Byl was ordered held on $10,000 bond after a Monday arraignment in Grand Rapids District Court. He was arrested by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force after a seven month-long investigation, and is facing felony counts of Prostitution/Transporting and Computers/Internet Communication with another to commit a crime, as well as a misdemeanor aiding and abetting charge, and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
According to a statement by the sheriff’s office, Byl allegedly assisted with commercial sex by creating multiple social media accounts, posing as a female online to arrange commercial sex, transporting women for commercial sex, and profiting from these arrangements. He was employed as a custodian through Grand Rapids Building Services, and authorities have no information at this point to indicate that anyone at Holland High is involved, or that students were targeted.
Later on Tuesday afternoon, after the Kent County Sheriff’s Office issued its statement on the Byl arrest, Holland Public Schools issued the following statement:
“It has come to our attention that a night shift custodian who was employed through Grand Rapids Building Services and assigned to our High School was recently arrested on prostitution charges. At this time we have no indication of any wrongdoing towards our students or staff. All people who work in our schools, even contracted employees such as this, must pass a background check. There was nothing on the background check that prevented him from being hired by Grand Rapids Building Services and being assigned as night time custodian. If your student attended Holland High School this spring and has brought forth concerns regarding this individual, please reach out to the Holland Police Department.”
The case remains open, with more charges expected, and anyone with any information is asked to contact the Kent County Sheriff’s Office (616-632-6125) or Kent County Silent Observer (616-774-2345).
