Charles Christopher
Posted by: Webmaster in Hall of Shame, Illinois, ME-IS-FV, Middle Schools(05/30/07 - Initial BBT Report)
Charles W. Christopher, 28, of Rock Falls, Illinois and a former Challand Middle School teacher, as well as head wrestling coach and assistant varsity baseball coach at Sterling High School in Sterling, Illinois pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activities.
Christopher was arrested Oct. 19, 2006 and charged with allegedly using a computer at the Sterling school in an attempt to persuade two young girls in a Yahoo chat room to agree to have sex with him. There were no “girls” but rather an undercover officer from Burlington, Iowa, conducting a child-predator sting.
Christopher, who had been employed by the school system for five years, was fired shortly after his arrest and has been jailed since April 25 at the order of a federal judge handling the case in the U.S. District Court for Southern Iowa in Davenport after the case was transferred from Illinois state court to federal court in Iowa.
Christopher’s trial date has been tentatively set for July 23 and if convicted he faces a maximum of 30 years on each count.
7/07/07 - Dismissal Sought
Christopher’s attorney has filed a motion with the court seeking the dismissal of charges.
Christopher’s attorney is contending that the federal indictment is too vague, because “illicit sexual activities” fails to specify what, if any, type of sexual crimes Christopher could be charged with.
As a result of this motion, the trial which was set for July 23rd has been rescheduled to August 27th. Prosecutors must reply to the defense motion for dismissal next week.
8/18/07 - Dismissal Denied
Judge John Jarvey denied a defense motion to dismiss the indictment against Christopher.
However the judge order prosecutors to identify the sex crimes that it will allege at trial that allegedly arose from the defendant’s use of the Internet. The judge gave prosecutors until August 24th to provide the information.
Christopher’s next court hearing is set for September 10th. His trial is tentatively set for September 24th.
8/27/07 - Prosecution Details Allegations
In response to an order from the judge to provide a list of crimes that the prosecution will allege at trial that Christopher committed during an on-line sex sting conducted by police the prosecution submitted a list which includes:
sexual abuse in the second degree, sexual abuse in the third degree, lascivious acts with a child, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, indecent contact with a child, contributing to delinquency, enticing away a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor.
9/11/07 - Trial Date Set
An October 1 trial date has been set in federal court in Davenport, Iowa for Charles Christopher.
9/28/07 Change of Plea Hearing Set
Charles Christopher has a change-of-plea hearing scheduled Thursday in federal court in Davenport, Iowa.
10/04/07 - Guilty Plea
Charles Christopher pleaded guilty today to one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
The plea deal in federal court in Davenport, Iowa requires the judge’s approval. It approved by the judge at sentencing expected early next year it will mean Christopher will serve a sentence of 10 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
Christopher was accused of soliciting sex from what he thought were 13- and 11-year-old girls. Court records indicate that Christopher admitted to contacting up to 10 other girls.
06/03/08 - Sentencing
On Monday, Charles Christopher was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Some of the 31 people who wrote letters seeking leniency for Christopher referred to him as “an All-American guy”, Christopher called himself a sex addict during an emotional plea for understanding and his fiancé said she is proud of Christopher for standing strong in the face of punishment by the legal system, community and media.
The prosecutor called him a pedophile.
Apparently the judge agreed.
References:
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
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