Unit 5 teacher pleads not guilty to sexual abuse charges

Posted on August 16, 2019
Hovey
Jonathon Hovey faces multiple counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse for alleged sex acts against a pair of his first-grade student at Glenn Elementary School in Normal. (Photo McLean County Sheriff’s Office)

By Greg Halbleib

BLOOMINGTON – A teacher at Glenn Elementary School has pleaded not guilty to charges he molested two first-graders who were in his class.

Jonathon Hovey, 47, of Forsyth entered the routine plea during a Friday morning arraignment in McLean County. He remains free from custody after posting $10,035 cash bond a day after his arrest earlier this month. He is ordered to not have contact with the two alleged victims or anyone younger than 18 years old.

Hovey’s attorney Tristan Bullington said after the hearing that his client is not guilty.

“We’ll be presenting a vigorous defense to the charges,” Bullington said. “We ask that the public reserve judgment until all the facts are available to them.”

Hovey is accused of inappropriately touching one of the children in 2004 and the other in 2017.

He is on paid leave from Unit 5 while the case is pending. His next court appearance is set for September 24.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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