BishopAccountability.org
	Minister Accused of Molestation out on Bond By Edith Brady-Lunny Pantagraph May 5, 2007 http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/05/05/news/doc463cccda0fac4407005245.txt Bloomington — District 87 officials are cooperating with police and child welfare agencies investigating molestation allegations against a substitute teacher who is a minister at a local church. James Love, 37, was charged Friday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child under the age of 13. He also was accused of giving the child a narcotic or anesthetic agent for other than medical purposes. District 87 Superintendent Robert Nielsen said police have cautioned that more victims may be identified in the case. "We have to go on the assumption that there will be more. We're preparing for that unfortunate eventuality," said Nielsen said Saturday. The superintendent said school officials will refer all new information from parents or students to Bloomington police and the state Department of Children and Family Services. "We have put staff on alert that any students or parents who know anything more about this are to be given the phone number of the lead detective," Nielsen said. Bloomington Police Detective Mike Burns is handling the case. He was unavailable for comment Saturday. The district's administration has been assured the alleged incident involving Love did not occur on school grounds, Nielsen said. Love has substituted with the district for several years and could have been assigned to a variety of classes at different schools, Nielsen said. Love is well-known in the community for his work with youths. In 2006, he received Bloomington's human relations award for mentoring youths. In a recent interview with the Pantagraph for a story on local gangs, Love said he works with youths in the community. He also is a minister at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington, and Pantagraph archives show he served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal. The newspaper was unable Saturday to confirm Love's primary employer, or to reach spokesmen for the church or the youth club. Phone calls to his house went unanswered. Love was released from jail Saturday after posting $10,000. Before Love was approved to work in District 87 as a substitute teacher, he passed all required criminal background checks, Nielsen said. Beyond the mandatory clearance, the teaching candidate had an impressive background of community service, he said. "There was nothing whatsoever that caused us concern," Nielsen said. Contact: eblunny@pantagraph.com
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