Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for July 19, 2007 TEACHERS: LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE!

A CNN (CAT News Network) newsCAT tipped me off to this story yesterday, but I passed...the revulsion factor was too high. This morning, I ran across a "sanitized" version that presents a "fair and balanced" approach.

The G-rated version is presented first, followed by the PG version.

If true - and remember, in the good ol' US of A, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty - at least he only threw away a 1-year career.

Pope County Teacher Facing Charges

By: Shawn Smetana

POPE COUNTY -- A Pope County teacher finds himself in the middle of a sex scandal. Jordan Livingston is accused of having sex with a 14 year old student. The 24 year old instructor is out of jail, free on a five thousand dollar cash bond.

Livingston teaches math at Pope County Elementary School. He also coached girls basketball at the junior high. Livingston faces two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and two counts of criminal sexual assault. Police say all four charges stem from an incident that took place on May 26th in Harrisburg.

News of these charges comes as a surprise to students and parents. Katlyn Mathews is a former student of Jordan Livingston. She had some good things to say about Livingston the teacher, "friendly pretty cool I guess" Mathews said.

Mathews says Livingston tutored her in math during the last school year. The 12 year old says it's hard to believe Livingston is facing four counts of sexual abuse, "he didn't seem like that type of guy."

According to the Pope county school website, Livingston was a first year teacher. He taught math at the elementary school and served as head coach for the junior high girl's basketball team.

The sexual abuse charges were filed in Saline county where Livingston lives. We went to his house in Harrisburg but got no answer. One of his neighbors is the mother of four children. She says her kids used to play catch with Mr. Livingston outside his home. She says his seemed like a "nice guy" that kept to himself.

Jera Cissna also lives next door she says was suprised to find out her neighbor is facing these charges, "it's scary because we got 4 kids living here, it's just really bad, I don't want to let the kids out."

The court system will determine Livingstons' guilt or innocence in this case. No matter the outcome students say the situation casts a shadow over their school.

Police say the investigation continues in both Saline and Pope county. School superintendent Alice Sutton says this is a personnel issue. She expects the district to take action against Livingston before school starts August 16th.

From the Harrisburg Daily Register...

Teacher accused in sex charges

By Eric Fodor
Staff Writer

HARRISBURG - A Pope County teacher is accused of sexual crimes involving a 14-year-old student.

Illinois State Police arrested Jordan Andrew Livingston, 24, 819 Poplar St., Harrisburg, at 4:10 p.m. July 13 on charges of sexual abuse. He is free on $5,000 cash bond. Police believe the incidents took place May 26 in Saline County, according to formal charges filed this morning by State's Attorney David Nelson.

In all, four charges were filed against Livingston.

The first two charges, criminal sexual assault, contend Livingston, while in a position of authority over the 14-year-old female victim, committed two acts of sexual penetration.

He was a teacher and the victim was a student and that is the reasoning behind the charges, Nelson said.

Charges three and four, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, contend Livingston committed two sexual acts with the young victim. The charges point to the same incident, Nelson said.

Pope County State's Attorney Janet Proctor indicated some of the investigation is taking place in Pope County, but there are no charges pending against Livingston there.

The Pope County School Web site indicates Livingston teaches title math at Pope County Elementary and was the junior high girls' basketball coach last season. This is his first year of teaching, the Web site states.

Pope County Superintendent Alice Sutton did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.