State suspends teaching license of Unit 5 teacher accused of sex abuse

Posted on October 31, 2019

Jonathan Hovey faces multiple counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse for alleged sex acts against two of his first grade student at Glenn Elementary School in Normal. (McLean County Sheriff’s Office Photo)

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – The State of Illinois is suspending the teaching license of a Unit 5 teacher accused of molesting two first grade students.

The Illinois State Board of Education took action October 25 against tenured Glenn Elementary School teacher Jonathan Hovey under a new state law. It authorizes the board to immediately suspend a teaching license when someone is charged with sex crimes, drug offenses, and Class X felonies.

Hovey’s license is suspended pending the outcome of the criminal case.

Prosecutors charged Hovey in August for the alleged sexual abuse of a child in 2004, and another student 13 years later. Both alleged incidents happened in his classroom.

Authorities say they didn’t have enough evidence in the first case until the second alleged victim came forward. There were similarities in both their stories, according to police.

At the time of Hovey’s arrest, Normal Police said they were investigating whether there were other victims, however prosecutors have filed no other charges against Hovey, who taught at Glenn for 18 years.

He is free on bond before a scheduled November 8 status hearing in McLean County Court.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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