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	Love Pleads Innocent to Sex Assault Charges By Edith Brady-Lunny The Pantagraph May 18, 2007 http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/05/18/news/doc464de13b9b5a6707589004.txt Bloomington — With his hand on a red Bible, James C. Love entered pleas of innocent Friday to accusations that he sedated and sexually abused four teenage boys at his home. Love, 37, faces four counts of aggravated battery and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The initial charges involving one child were filed two weeks ago, with additional charges coming a week later and the fourth count being filed Wednesday. Love carried the Bible into the courtroom and laid it on a ledge at the front of Judge Kevin Fitzgerald's bench. After the brief hearing, Love blew kisses to family members and other supporters as he left the courtroom. Among those supporters was the Rev. Frank McSwain, pastor of Bloomington's Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, where Love serves as a minister. He also was a substitute teacher for Unit 5 and District 87 schools before his arrest. McSwain said he and other church members are concerned about all the families affected by the charges. "Everybody is hurting. We're concerned about all the families and those children. We pray for all of them," McSwain said. Love's position with the church has not been a focus of attention for church leaders. "The pain is so vast, we haven't had time to deal with bureaucracy," McSwain said. The possible penalties Love could face were explained by the judge: Aggravated battery carries a possible five-year prison term, and the aggravated criminal sexual assault could mean a seven-year term. The judge has the option of making the terms consecutive. Defense attorney Steve Skelton said the case is just getting started. When asked about Love's mood, Skelton responded, "It's premature for him to have any hopes, whether they're realistic or unrealistic. We haven't gotten to that point yet." Love must post $40,000 to be released from jail. He is scheduled in court again June 22. Contact: eblunny@pantagraph.com
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