Matthew Wilson
12-26-08

A Somonauk, Ill., high school agriculture teacher has been arrested and charged for the second time in a two-week period, the DeKalb County sheriff's office said today. The latest charges against Somonauk High School teacher Matthew Wilson, 51, came Friday after he was accused by an alleged victim who had read a news account of the earlier charges, Sheriff Roger Scott said.

On Friday, Wilson was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse in connection with an alleged incident involving a student in 2006. On Dec. 5, Wilson turned himself in after a warrant was issued for his arrest for unlawful restraint and battery, Scott said. In that instance, he was accused of physically restraining two teenage girls on the school's agricultural department property and keeping them from leaving, Scott said.

Only one of those girls was a Somonauk student. He was released after posting $5,000 bail, Scott said. On Dec. 10, a former student who read of Wilson's arrest in a local newspaper told police Wilson had fondled and touched her inappropriately in December 2006, when she was still a student, Scott said.

DeKalb Co. teacher arrested 2nd time (12/26/08)

Jon White
12-07-08

A Champaign County judge refused Friday to reduce the sentence of a former Urbana teacher convicted of child molestation.

The lawyer for Jon White, 28, formerly a teacher at Thomas Paine Elementary School in Urbana, argued that Judge Harry Clem relied on incorrect information by a sex offender evaluator about White's risk to reoffend in coming up with his sentence of 48 years in prison. Urbana attorney Brett Olmstead also argued the sentence was excessive given the circumstances of the crimes.

Clem sentenced White in early April on eight counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse to which White pleaded guilty in February. White admitted that he placed a banana in the mouths of eight blindfolded young girls for his own sexual gratification. The acts occurred between August 2005 and December 2006 while White was a second-grade teacher in Urbana.

Clem said he took into account the number of victims, the length of time White engaged in his conduct, his position of trust and the need for deterrence in arriving at his sentence.

Judge rejects request to reduce sentence of Jon White (12/05/08)
Lawyers seek reduced sentences for child molester Jon White (04/29/08)
White sentenced to additional 12 years for sex abuse (04/29/08)
White still faces additional time on McLean County charges (04/05/08)
Ex-Teacher Sentenced To Prison (04/04/08)
Former Teacher Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse (2/20/08)
Former teacher pleads guilty to molesting students (2/20/08)
White pleads guilty to Urbana sexual abuse charges (2/20/08)

Geoff Dalton
12-02-08

Harrisonville teacher and assistant football coach faces two sexual assault charges in Illinois.

Harrisonville-Cass school district officials said today they are investigating allegations against Geoff Dalton and cooperating with law enforcement.

“We are emphasizing that the allegations do not relate to any current or former Harrisonville students,” said Jill Filer, director of communications and community relations.

She would not say what, if any, actions had been taken against Dalton while the allegations are investigated. He apparently is not teaching, however.

Filer said when such an allegation is made regarding a current employee, the district will not permit that employee to have contact with the district’s students while allegations are pending.

She said the district learned of the charges Monday from media in Quincy, Ill. and law enforcement.

The district screens all employee candidates and conducts criminal background checks of employees, she said. Dalton, 33, was arrested Sunday at a family member’s residence in Illinois after a month-long investigation, Adams County Sheriff Brent Fischer said. Fischer said the victim was a female student between the ages of 13 and 16. He declined to release other details. Dalton posted $3,000 cash of a $30,000 bond and is to make a court appearance Dec. 8 in Adams County.

Harrisonville teacher faces sex charges in Illinois (12-02-08)
Football coach Geoff Dalton faces criminal sexual assault, abuse charges involving student (12-02-08)

Rebecca Daniels
11-26-08

Charges have been dropped against a South Side charter school teacher accused of having sex with three students after separate Cook County grand juries declined to indict her.

Rebecca Daniels, 37, a teacher at Calumet High School, was charged in October with sexual assault and abuse for allegedly having sex with the underage students.

The charges were dropped Friday, a spokesman for the Cook County State's attorney's office said.

A source familiar with the case said the grand juries declined to indict Daniels but the source did not know why. Grand jury proceedings are held in secret.

Charges dropped against teacher (11-26-08)
South Side teacher accused of sexual assault (10-29-08)

Laura Obzera
11-24-08

Laura Obzera, a elementary school nurse, was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for allegedly having sexual relations with three teen boys in 2006, officials said.

Obzera, 49, works for Valley View Community School District 365U in Bolingbrook, police said. She is listed as a health assistant at Wood View Elementary School in Bolingbrook on the school's Web site.

There is no indication that the abuse of the boys, ages 13 to 17, happened on school property, Bolingbrook police Cmdr. Tom Ross said, and Obzera apparently did not meet them through her job.

Obzera was arrested nine days after Bolingbrook police joined a Department of Children and Family Services inquiry into sexually charged text messages that were exchanged between an adult female and male teens, officials said. She was released Thursday on $50,000 bail.

School nurse arrest for sexual abuse on students (11/22/08)
Bolingbrook elementary school health worker accused of having sex with teen boys in 2006 (11/22/08)

Eric Wood
11-22-08

A 17-year-old Zion-Benton High School student was found hiding in the closet of a Waukegan middle school teacher earlier this month.

A missing-person report was filed Nov. 8 by the girl's family with the Zion Police Department when she did not return home by curfew after being out the previous day. Contacted by Zion police, the Lake County Sheriff's Office sent officers to the Beach Park home of Eric Wood, a 24-year-old teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, on Nov. 9.

After denying he knew the whereabouts of the Zion girl, Wood allowed deputies to search the home and found her hiding in a closet.

Wood was then arrested and charged with obstructing justice, said Sgt. Christopher Thompson.

When asked about Wood's arrest and involvement with the teenager, Waukegan School District officials declined to comment.

Teacher charged after student found in closet (11/22/08)

Michael Kolb
11-18-08

Alden-Hebron District 19 school officials tonight are expected to discuss the arrest of the district's technology director after police said he solicited a 17-year-old student to perform in an adult movie.

Michael Kolb, 23, 1023 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, approached the girl in late October while she was doing community service work at the school, Hebron Police Chief Dale Egland said.

"He asked her if she was still doing some modeling work to which she said yes," Egland said. "He told her there was more money to be made in the adult film business."

Egland said the girl then left, but on Nov. 4 Kolb pulled her into a back room at the school.

"He said that his friend was very interested in doing a shoot, but that she would be auditioning with him and might still not get the part," Egland said.

The girl then told her mother and the two went to police. Kolb was arrested Nov. 12 and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

"That's all we could get from the State's Attorney's Office," Egland said. "They said he came very close to crossing the line where sex-related charges could be filed against him, but he didn't."

According to McHenry County court records, Kolb was charged in 2005 with unauthorized videotaping after he taped a woman in a tanning room at his former residence in Johnsburg.

McLean County investigation resulted in criminal charges involving two students.

Police say school employee solicited student for adult movie (11/18/08)

Ronald L. Watson Jr.
11-08-08

A former West Aurora High School teacher who had a sexual relationship with a student has been sentenced to 90 days in the Kane County Jail. Ronald L. Watson Jr., 28, pleaded guilty this week to aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He will serve periodic, weekend imprisonment in the jail over the next three years, according to the Kane County state's attorney's office.

The Aurora man was fired from his teaching post in December 2006 when school officials became aware of the relationship between Watson and a 17-year-old student. Although the student was legally of age, she could not consent to sexual activity with someone who was in a position of authority, like a teacher. According to court records, the two began a relationship in May 2005, when she was a student in one of Watson's English classes. Under the terms of his guilty plea announced Wednesday, Watson, who did not have a prior criminal record, was placed on probation for four years. He also must register as a sex offender.

Former teacher sentenced in sex case (11/07/08)
Teacher denies sexual allegations

Samuel Hossin
10-30-08

Sixty-one-year-old Samuel Hossin of suburban Hickory Hills is charged with aggravated possession and aggravated dissemination of child pornography.

Cook County sheriff's police began an investigation after receiving a tip that Hossin had child porn on his home computer.

Hossin was a 6th grade teacher on Chicago's South Side until he retired in 2006. He worked in the Chicago Public Schools system for 30 years.

A retired Chicago public school teacher faces child pornography charges (10/30/08)
Former Teacher Busted For Child Porn (10/30/08)
Hickory Hills man facing child porn charges (10/30/08)

James C. Love
10-29-08

A one-time substitute teacher for both unit 5 and District 87 has charges against him dropped in McLean County.

38-year old James Curtis Love had already made a plea deal in Federal Court in Peoria to plead guilty to child pornography charges in return for a twenty year prison term. Love is to be sentenced in January.

Charges Dropped In McLean County Sex Case (10/30/08)
Former substitute teacher pleads guilty to child porn (09/30/08)
Minister accused of sex abuse fit to stand trial (07/18/08)
Love trial on hold pending mental exam (2/08/08)
Delay granted in trial of minister accused of sex abuse (11/21/07)
Trial delayed for minister accused of sex abuse (7/12/07)
Accused minister faces more sex charges (5/07/07)
Love’s bond raised to $300,000 on new charges (5/09/07)
Bloomington minister pleads not guilty in sex abuse case (5/18/07)
Bloomington teacher is accused; minister expresses support for him (5/19/07)

Thomas W. Thornburg
10-28-08

An ex-teacher who tried to obtain sex from underage boys last year has been sentenced to 19 1/2 years in federal prison for solicitation and possession of child pornography. Thomas W. Thornburg, 53, of the 1200 block of Governor Street was sentenced at the low end of the guideline range recommended by prosecutors.

Thornburg, who was manager of a McDonald’s restaurant when he was arrested in February, was sentenced to 235 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeanne Scott. Thornburg served 3 1/2 years in an Indiana prison in the mid-1980s after being convicted of molesting two teens while he was a teacher and coach at an elementary school near Elkhart, Ind. “You can’t control yourself even knowing the reality of prison,” said Scott. Assistant U.S. attorney Patrick Chesley asked for a 20-year sentence, saying he was leaning toward asking for a 22-year sentence but because Thornburg “has friends, and his family has stayed by him,” lowered his recommendation.

Ex-teacher sentenced to almost 20 years (10/28/08)

Michael Wetzell
10-27-08

A Rock Falls man, who was formerly a local police officer turned educator, pleaded guilty Thursday to the aggravated battery of a female student in Henry County.

Michael J. Wetzell, 31, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the felony charge.

In 2006, while Wetzell was a physical education teacher in the Annawan School District, he slapped the buttocks of a then 13-year-old girl after he asked her for back rubs.

That incident did not come to the attention of the Henry County Sheriff's Department until after Wetzell was charged in March in Montgomery County for sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl at Litchfield High School. Police in Montgomery County say Wetzell also provided that girl with alcohol.

Wetzell was the dean of students at Litchfield High School last year. Court records indicate he moved back to Rock Falls when the charge was filed.

The former Rock Falls police officer is scheduled to appear in Montgomery County on Monday for his next court appearance, which will be a pre-trial conference.

Ex-teacher sentenced to 5 years (10/27/08)
RF man charged with assault on student (04/03/08)

Ronald Suitts
10-18-08

Former Larkin High School German teacher pleaded not guilty Friday to having sex with a 16-year-old student years ago.

Ronald D. Suitts, 56, of 874 Shuler Ave., Elgin, is charged with nine counts of criminal sexual assault and 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in connection with the alleged encounters in 2002 and 2003 with the minor student.

Police said the female, now 22, reported the incidents in June. Investigators obtained an overhear order to listen in on a phone conversation between Suitts and the purported victim, after which he was charged.Then a Kane County grand jury returned a 19-count indictment against Suitts earlier this month.

Former LHS teacher pleads not guilty (09/16/08)
Larkin teacher charged with having sex with teen (09/16/08)
Bond Set For Teacher Accused Of Sexual Assault (09/16/08)

Randy DeJaynes
10-08-08

Randy L. DeJaynes, 57, a former English teacher at DeLand-Weldon High School, in DeLand, Illinois who pleaded guilty in August to one count of possession of child pornography has been sentenced in Macon County.

DeJaynes, who is also the former pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Decatur, Illinois, was sentenced to two years probation and is prohibited from having contact the victim.

DeJaynes also must undergo sex offender treatment, pay fines and restitution totaling $12,945 and forfeit the computer seized by police.

The child pornography charge in Macon County arose from DeJaynes giving a teenage boy at DeLand-Weldon High School a digital camera with the understanding the boy was to take a picture of his genitals and e-mail it to DeJaynes. Police found one picture of the boy’s genitals on DeJaynes computer. As part of the August plea deal prosecutors in Macon County dropped three additional child pornography counts.

DeJaynes also faces three charges of aggravated battery and two charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in Piatt County. Those charges allege DeJaynes squeezed the buttocks of several of his male students at DeLand-Weldon High School, kissed one on the head and twice rubbed his sex organ against the knee of a student for the purpose of his personal sexual arousal. Reportedly these charges will be dropped when DeJaynes makes a court appearance in Piatt County on Wednesday.

Charges likely to be dropped in ex-DeLand Weldon teacher abuse case (10/07/08)

Stephen J. Chromi
10-01-08

Stephen Chromik, 25, a former teacher and soccer coach at Metamora High School in Metamora, Illinois has been arrested and charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

It is alleged that Chromik had sex with a student between the ages of 14 to 16 in May of this year.

Following his arrest Chromik was being held in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Reportedly Chromik’s case will be referred to a grand jury.

Chromik no longer works for the school, reportedly having resigned in July and moved from the area.

At the time of his arrest, Chromik was on probation for a felony aggravated assault case from Tennessee, a case which was pled down from a sexual battery charge. As a result of the Tennessee case Chromik was reportedly placed on five years’ probation beginning in 2005 and his probation was transferred to Peoria County, Illinois.

A preliminary hearing for Chromik has been set for October 2nd.

If convicted, Chromik could face between 4 and 20 years in prison.

Former Metamora Coach Indicted (10/01/08)
Ex-teacher to face sex charges (09/05/08)
Former Teacher and Coach Charged with Having Sex with a Student (09/05/08)

David Cameron
10-01-08

A former Carbondale teacher has pleaded guilty to sex acts with a child.

David Cameron made the plea in a Jefferson County courtroom Tuesday.

He was arrested four years ago when police broke up a child porn ring in Mt. Vernon.

Authorities say he was seen on tape committing a sex act with a 12 year old.

At the time, Cameron worked at Brehm Prep school in Carbondale. He faces between six and 60 years in prison. Five other men have already been convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the porn ring.

Cameron Pleads Guilty (10/01/08)

Daniel Scott Markofski
09-16-08

An elementary school principal from Spring Grove, Illinois, is charged with sexual abuse and showing pornography to minors after he was found in a Wisconsin hotel room with two underage girls.

Daniel Scott Markofski, 47, is facing these kinds of allegations. Police are saying that all of the activity took place in the Milwaukee metro area involving teenagers from the Milwaukee area, not the Chicago area.

Former Northwoods Educator Pleads Guilty to Child Molestation Charges (09/16/08)
Teacher pleads not guilty to molestation charges (04/18/08)
Ill. principal faces sex chargesn Wis. (04/08/08)
Principal accused in sexual escapade with teen girls (04/08/08)

Scott M. Brown
08-14-08

A central Illinois physical education teacher is facing child pornography charges for allegedly possessing computer video files that include images of underage girls having sex.

Decatur School District teacher Scott M. Brown was charged Tuesday with five counts of possessing child pornography with intent to disseminate. He's scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

Decatur police say they arrested Brown at his home July 18th. He posted $2,000 bail and is out of jail. School officials says Brown is on paid leave.

Decatur PE teacher charged in child-porn case (04-14-08)

George A. Langlotz
08-07-08

A teacher at a Lombard high school was out on bond Thursday night after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.

CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports that George Langlotz, a 57-year-old drivers' education from Glenbard East High School, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old senior at the school.

"The description that I have received is inappropriate touching of a sexual nature," said Naperville Police Lt. Dave Hoffman.

Driver’s ed teacher sentenced for sexual relationship (08/06/08)
Lombard Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Student

Klint Wescom
06-27-08

Former track coach from Grayslake has been sentenced to periodic imprisonment for having sex with an underage athlete.

As part of a plea deal, Klint Wescom, 31, of the 300 block of Brittany Avenue in Grayslake, will serve 18 months. The former Grayslake Central High School track coach was charged with criminal sexual assault in May 2007 after a female athlete told police she and Wescom had sex off campus. The girl was 17 at the time. He was sentenced Thursday to periodic imprisonment.

Former coach sentenced in sex crime (06/26/08)
Coach charged with sex assault
Track Coach Accused Of Molesting 16-Year-Old Girl
Coach named in sex case

Andre N. Williams
TODAY: 06-13-08

The former girls baskeball coach at Peoria High School was sentenced this morning to three years in prison for having sex with a 15-year-old girl whom he once coached.

Andre Williams, 35, of 3809 N. Lehman Road, was sentenced by Judge Michael Brandt to prison in Peoria County Circuit Court.

During sentencing, Williams apologized and asked the judge for probation. Brandt, however, noted the seriousness of the offense and the need to deter others in rejecting Williams' probation plea.

Former Central High School coach sentenced to prison (06/13/08)
Former Coach Is Sentenced To Prison (06/13/08)
Educator pleads guilty to abuse (4/02/08)
Judge lowers bond for teacher accused of having sex with students
Teacher Taken Into Custody (07/02/07)
Police Search For Accused Teacher (6/29/07)
Peoria High coach indicted
District 150 teacher indicted on four sex charges
District 150 teacher released from jail

Charles Christopher
06-03-08

Two days before his wedding in October 2006, federal authorities arrested a middle school teacher in Sterling, Ill., for attempting to lure a girl he believed was 13 years old over the Internet. On Monday, Charles Christopher, 29, learned he will serve the 10-year mandatory sentence for attempting to entice a girl named Ashley — actually Detective Michael Swore from Burlington, Iowa — from his school computer.

Christopher, described as an “All-American” guy by some of the 31 people who wrote letters of support to U.S. District Judge John Jarvey, called himself a sex addict during an emotional plea for understanding.

“I never would harm a child,” Christopher said, after saying he believes God is using his arrest to “save my life” from an addiction that would probably have been “the death of me.” He vowed to use his education and experience to help others, as well as continue with the Sex Addicts Anonymous program.

Ill. teacher sentenced for attempting to lure teen over Internet (06/03/08)
Christopher pleads guilty (10/04/07)
Illinois teacher pleads guilty to seeking sex with Iowa girl (10/04/07)
Accused predator to change plea (9/28/07)
Teacher linked to potential offenses (8/27/07)
Motion is denied to dismiss sex case (8/18/07)
Prosecutor defends indictment of former Sterling teacher (7/13/07)
Christopher wants federal solicitation charges dropped
Christopher enters not guilty plea
Teacher arrested

Steven J. Kemp
05-21-08

A pretrial conference for a former West Central High School teacher and coach was continued in Warren County Circuit Court Wednesday. The pretrial conference for Steven J. Kemp, 34, Monmouth, has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. July 23.

Kemp is facing three counts of sexual assault and two counts of criminal sexual abuse. He is accused of having intercourse with a 17-year-old female on three occasions between March and August 2007 and fondling the student’s breasts on two occasions in July and August of 2007.

Pretrial hearing continued for former coach facing sex charges (05/21/08)
Former teacher pleads not guilty to sex charges (2/26/08)
Former West Central coach in court (1/08/08)
Reaction to West Central coach’s arrest (11/08/07)
Former teacher/coach arrested for sexual assault (11/07/07)

Chad Roby
05-14-08

A former Mt. Prospect middle school teacher who coached sports in Glenview got 2 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of possession of child pornography stemming from online chats with an undercover Indiana police detective posing as a 13-year-old boy, officials said.

Chad Roby, 34, of the 300 block of Hamilton Avenue in Elgin was originally charged with two counts of attempted child molestation, two counts of child solicitation and one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors.

He was sentenced by Cook County Circuit Judge Larry Axelrood in Skokie.

Roby taught 6th-grade English and social studies at River Trails Middle School in Mt. Prospect for six years until his resignation shortly after he was arrested June 13, 2006, outside the Clay Terrace Mall in Carmel, Ind., where he had gone for what he thought would be a rendezvous with the boy, court records said. Roby had sent the detective sexually suggestive pictures before going to the mall, the records said.

Former Mt. Prospect teacher gets 2 years for child porn (05/08/08)
Suburban teacher charged in internet sex sting (06/21/06)
Parents Express Shock At Coach’s Arrest (06/19/06)

Alonso Bracey
04-14-08

Alonso Bracey was convicted in February of sexually abusing five boys between the ages of 11 and 13.

Bracey was the basketball coach at Barton Elementary School on the city's South Side. Monday's delay came after Bracey's attorney asked for a new trial, claiming the jury was pressured to reach a quick verdict.

It will be at least another month before the victims of former basketball coach and choir director may have closure. The family of the boys he was convicted of molesting expected his sentencing Monday but were unpleasantly surprised by when criminal court Judge Stanley Sacks was forced to continue the case.

The families of convicted child molester Bracey left court Monday morning without the justice they came for. "I felt like justice was going to be served today," said LaTonya Barker, victim's mother, in tears.

Coach convicted of sex abuse sentenced to life in prison (06/04/08)
Sentencing delayed in sex assault conviction (04/14/08)

`
Vicente Pecina
04-03-08

Highland Park police charged a Northbrook school cafeteria worker Wednesday with 50 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and seven counts of possession of child pornography.

Police executed a search warrant Wednesday afternoon at the Highland Park home of Vicente Pecina, 345 Temple Ave., and seized computer equipment. Files containing child pornography were discovered on at least one of the computer drives removed from Pecina's apartment, according to a police statement.

Police have interviewed a 15-year-old boy from Highland Park who has told investigators he was sexually abused by Pecina up to 50 times during a 15-month period, said Cmdr. Gerald Cameron of the Highland Park Police Department.

Forensic investigators with the Lake County States Attorney's Office are continuing to comb through multiple hard drives from Pecina's apartment, Cameron said.

Pecina, 35, has been cooperating with police, Cameron said.

Northbrook School Cafeteria Worker Charged with Criminal Sex Abuse (04/03/08)

Dennis Goggin
03-22-08

Chicago Firefighter and girls swimming coach at Lincoln Park High School has been charged with indecent solicitation of a child and criminal sexual abuse, officials said Saturday.

Dennis Goggin, 42, of the 3600 block of South Union Avenue in Chicago, was arrested Thursday in Elmhurst and is being held in the DuPage County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail, said Elmhurst Police Sgt. Steve Weatherford.

Chicago Public Schools spokesman Mike Vaughn said it was unclear how long Goggin had been coaching at the school, but said he was fired Friday.

Goggin has also been placed on paid administrative leave from the Chicago Fire Department.

Firefighter charged with soliciting child on Net (3/23/08)
Lincoln Park High School coach charged in sex abuse case (3/22/08)

Laura E. Sieradzki
03-11-08

A former McHenry High School teacher admitted in court Tuesday to having sexual contact with a 17-year-old male student in 2006 as part of a plea bargain in which she will stay out of jail if she steers clear of further trouble for the next two years.

Laura E. Sieradzki, 34, was sentenced to two years' probation, ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and must register as a sex offender under the deal in which she pleaded guilty to a reduced charged of criminal sexual abuse.

A former Palatine resident now living in Freeport, she also received a 180-day sentence in the McHenry County jail but will not serve that time unless she violates the conditions of her probation.

Sieradzki, at the time a special-education teacher at McHenry High School's West Campus, initially was charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse stemming from the March 29, 2006, incident. If convicted of those charges she would have faced a minimum of four years in prison and been required to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.

Ex-McHenry High teacher admits to sexual encounter with student (3/11/08)
Former McHenry High School teacher pleads guilty to sexually abusing student (3/11/08)
Former McHenry teacher admits to sexual abuse of student (3/11/08)