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  Rockford Church Teacher, 2nd Man, Face Sex Charges

Rockford Register Star
October 23, 2010

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x806162389/Sunday-school-teacher-faces-sexual-assault-charges

ROCKFORD — The Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s office has filed several criminal sexual abuse charges against two men in unrelated incidents.

State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato said Terry Carlson, 54, of Rockford was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of criminal sexual assault, 14 counts of criminal sexual abuse and six counts of indecent solicitation of a child.

Also under arrest is Lamarr Bernard Thurmond, 27. He is charged with three counts of criminal sexual assault, one count of child abduction and one count of indecent solicitation of a child regarding acts with a 14-year-old victim.

Carlson is a Kishwaukee Baptist Church trustee and Sunday school teacher. Bruscato said the alleged incidents occurred during the past year and involve at least two victims, who are now 17 years old and 15 years old.

The 17-year-old was 16 at the time the purported incidents occurred. Bruscato said Carlson knew his victims from the church, but would not say whether the abuse occurred at the church.

Carlson has been an employee of the church for several years, police said, also working as a counselor and school bus driver.

Bruscato said the church is aware of the charges and is cooperating with police in the investigation. Calls made to Kishwaukee Baptist Church on Friday were not returned.

Carlson is in the Winnebago County Jail with a bond of $500,000.

Police ask that anyone who has had contact with Carlson, or if their children have had involvement with him, to call the Rockford Police Department at 815-987-5824, or Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.

Police arrested Thurmond near Auburn High School after detectives said they saw him drive up and engage in conversation with a female student while she walked to school, Deputy Chief Greg Lindmark said.

Police alerted the public to the presence of a man in a green van after an Oct. 14 incident in which a 14-year-old reportedly got into Thurmond’s van and was later dropped off at Auburn Freshman Academy. Police issued another warning Monday after a 15-year-old female student said she was approached in the area of Greenview and Ashland avenues.

After those alerts, Lindmark said, several more people came forward saying they had seen the same 1997 green Plymouth van around Auburn High School since the beginning of the school year.

Bruscato said they continue to look for public assistance on any additional incidents that may have occurred over the past couple months.

Bruscato said that in any case of suspicious vehicles or people around a school, people should report the activity to school officials or the Police Department.

Thurmond is being held in the Winnebago County Jail with a bond of $500,000.

Reach staff writer Matt Williams at mwilliams@rrstar.com or 815-987-1389.

 
 

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