Charges dismissed against former Unit 5 teacher

Posted on September 8, 2020

*Jonathon Hovey, 48, of Forsyth. (McLean County Sheriff’s Office Photo)*

By HOI ABC

NORMAL – McLean County prosecutors have dismissed all charges against a former Unit 5 teacher accused of sexually molesting two first graders in his class when he taught at Glenn Elementary School in Normal.

In a motion filed Tuesday, the State’s Attorney’s Office dropped charges against Jonathon Hovey, 48, Forsyth, because of “unavailable witnesses,” according to our news partner HOI ABC.

Hovey faced two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, alleging he inappropriately touched one of the children in 2004 and the other in 2017.

The state has the right to refile the charges.

Both prosecutors as well as Hovey’s lawyer, Tristan Bullington, declined to comment.

The charges against Hovey were initially filed in August 2019.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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