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	Pastor-Professor Guilty of Naperville Sex Abuse Naperville Sun October 20, 2011 http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/8310377-418/pastor-professor-guilty-of-naperville-sex-abuse.html The founding pastor of an upstate church who also taught at the community college level faces a potential seven-year prison term, after admitting he sexually molested a young girl late last year in Naperville. James W. French remains free on bond pending his sentencing in DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton. French, 64, of Dakota, pleaded guilty Monday to a Class 2 felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 18, said Paul Darrah, spokesman for DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin. Three companion charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse were dismissed in exchange for the plea. Naperville police began investigating French on Nov. 16, after being contacted by officials of the DuPage County Children's Advocacy Center. That agency investigates molestation allegations involving children. French was arrested Dec. 2 at his home, where police confiscated what Sgt. Gregg Bell characterized as "pertinent evidence to the investigation." An Internet autobiography of French stated he was the founding pastor of Indian Grove Country Church in Rock City, and served in that capacity between 1987 and 2008. The Rock City-Dakota area is about 100 miles from Naperville. At the time of his arrest, French was an adjunct professor at Rock Valley College in Rockford, where he taught courses in U.S. history and Western and Eastern civilization. A spokeswoman for the college in December confirmed French's status there as an adjunct professor. She said she could not comment on whether he had been placed on leave or dismissed. Between 1989 and 1992, French was also a member of the Stephenson County Board, according to the autobiography. It states that 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. Darrah said French faces a sentence of three to seven years in prison. A presentencing hearing is set for Nov. 28 before presiding Judge Daniel P. Guerin.
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