By Bill Bird
Naperville Sun
December 7, 2010
http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/2728638-418/naperville-abuse-county-french-minor.html
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| James W. French of Dakota |
The man charged with sexually abusing a child earlier this year in Naperville is an adjunct professor at a community college and, reportedly, a minister.
James W. French, 63, of upstate Dakota, remained Tuesday in DuPage County Jail in Wheaton on a $250,000 bond. He faces trial on a felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Naperville police on Thursday arrested French at his home and seized what Sgt. Gregg Bell characterized as "pertinent evidence to the investigation." Police on Nov. 16 began looking into French's activities after being contacted by officials of the DuPage County Children's Advocacy Center, which investigates molestation allegations involving children.
An Internet autobiography indicated French is an adjunct professor of history at Rock Valley College in Rockford, where he has taught courses in U.S. history and western and eastern civilization.
Nancy Chamberlain, the college's director of communications, on Tuesday confirmed French's status there as an adjunct professor.
Chamberlain said she could not comment on whether French has been placed on leave or dismissed. She said another professor has taken on French's course load and duties "for the remainder of the semester during this final week of classes."
French's autobiography stated he holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; a master's degree from California State University at Fullerton; and a master of divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield. He reportedly has taught at a Roman Catholic high school in Freeport and worked as a substitute teacher at the elementary and high school levels.
He identifies himself as the "Reverend James W. French," although the autobiography did not indicate whether he is or was affiliated with a particular church or denomination.
Dakota is in Stephenson County near Rockford, just more than 100 miles from Naperville. No one answered the telephone Tuesday afternoon when a call was placed to French's home.
French is scheduled to appear Dec. 16 before Judge Daniel P. Guerin in DuPage County Circuit Court.
Contact: wbird@stmedianetwork.com
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