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Former minister now faces child porn charges
By Edith Brady-Lunny
eblunny@pantagraph.com
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PEORIA -- A former substitute teacher who also worked as a minister at a Bloomington church was indicted Tuesday on federal child pornography charges.

James Love, 37, faces two counts of production of child pornography. He is accused of photographing two boys who are minors while they were sedated for the purpose of producing the child pornography.

If convicted of the federal charges, Love would face 15 to 30 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He would have to serve 85 percent of any federal sentence.

Love also has been charged in McLean County with sedating and molesting four teenage boys who stayed over-night at his home.

The McLean County indictments were handed down in May.

Love has pleaded not guilty to the allegations. He remains jailed in lieu of $40,000.

In September, Assistant State’s Attorney Michele Brooks told the court that Bloomington police had found doz-ens of images depicting child pornography on a computer at Love’s home. One of the alleged victims in the crimi-nal case has been positively identified in one of the photos that appear to have been taken in the basement of Love’s home, according to court records.

Love worked as a substitute teacher in Unit 5 and District 87 schools before his arrest. He also served as a min-ister at a Bloomington church.

The possible penalties for Love if convicted of the state charges include five years in prison for aggravated battery and seven years for aggravated criminal sexual assault. The judge could make the terms consecutive.

Love’s next court hearing in the McLean County case is Nov. 21.

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Reader comments on this story - 22 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

de'Mirious J. Washington wrote on Oct 21, 2007 2:40 PM:

" Let the man have his day in court people. I for one am confident of innocence! "

I hope... wrote on Oct 19, 2007 10:06 PM:

" So, "To: I hope"...I'm not sure if you're trying to be crytic or not but what are you trying to say? We should be talking about the death penalty or it costs too much too keep someone in jail so he should just get counseling or something? Please be clear, otherwise your comments aren't helpful. "Took him to raise" means nothing to me. Whatever you are trying to say, put it in contexts of "So Sad regardless" comment...i.e. what if it was your son? "

ignorance wrote on Oct 19, 2007 4:10 PM:

" Yeah...he was a full time employee at State Farm.... "

To: I hope wrote on Oct 18, 2007 6:44 PM:

" Well, MY HOPE is that YOU and others who think like you will remember that YOU "took him to raise" and will have thus assumed financial responsibility for him, FOR LIFE. I want a better, and hopefully, more efficient and effective long term socio-legal result. "

For Kids Sake wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:16 PM:

" Have you all lost focus here?? Stop your belly aching about where he worked, how old he is, how much $ he has/doesn't have......BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!!!!!!! There were innocent children who were violated here. Why not spend more of your time advocating for childrens safety???????? "

The first time~~ wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:54 PM:

" this appeared in the Pantagraph their were so many people that wrote in to convey his innocence and now these same people aren't writing in to do it again. Where are they and why haven't they committed to his innocence now? A lot of people were very angry that he was charged; where are those same people now? I won't say he is guilty or not, I don't know all the evidence nor have I seen the evidence, so therefore no one knows if he is guilty or not. That is why I won't write in declaring anger towards him for this story. As it stands now it is merely a story about someone being charged for a crime. "

Answer wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:29 PM:

" It's 40 grand he has to come up with. It's 100 grand on each charge, the 40 is 10%. "

leroy wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:53 PM:

" vengence is mind said the lord forget not that they shall be judged as i judge tee "

re:bail question wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:42 PM:

" No he needs 40,000 to leave...Still to low, but, whatever. "

bail question wrote on Oct 18, 2007 11:50 AM:

" wouldn't he only have to come up with 4000? Why doesn't he post bail? "

It's irrelevant wrote on Oct 18, 2007 10:14 AM:

" First of all - what does his employer have to do with his criminal behavior? The only bearing is the SLATE program that started his career as a substitute but he was no longer affiliated with that program - which by the way has been very successful. Secondly - (Just get rid) what does organized religion have to do with his criminal behavior, there are plenty of pedophiles and other criminals that have nothing to do with religion, organized or not. And finally, (I hope, "that I hope") - forgiveness does not remove the consequences and/or punishment for the sins committed, it involves the heart of the individual and their attitude towards and relationship with the perpetrator of wrongdoing. "

It's irrelevant wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:46 AM:

" First of all - what does his employer have to do with his criminal behavior? The only bearing is the SLATE program that started his career as a substitute but he was no longer affiliated with that program - which by the way has been very successful. Secondly - (Just get rid) what does organized religion have to do with his criminal behavior, there are plenty of pedophiles and other criminals that have nothing to do with religion, organized or not. And finally, (I hope, "that I hope") - forgiveness does not remove the consequences and/or punishment for the sins committed, it involves the heart of the individual and their attitude towards and relationship with the perpetrator of wrongdoing. "

I hope... wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:08 AM:

" I said if he's guilty...whoever actually does something so horrible as these allegations for sure deserves to be punished severely! The idea that because you or I could also do something bad in the future and would wish for forgiveness doesn't mean those that do evil deeds should not be punished! There is a big difference between punishment and forgiveness. Plus, this guy is claiming he has nothing to be forgiven for; at this point he's not asking for forgiveness, just a fair trial. That's why I said IF found guilty! I think my comment was plenty fair. "

Hmmmmmmmm wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:19 AM:

" I too find it interesting that the primary employer (State Farm) has conveniently been dropped. And to What Does It Matter...... the primary employer is the one who facilitated his getting into the substitute teaching program to begin with. Why should they be shielded? "

I agree wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:28 AM:

" "I agree with "Once Again", his full-time job was with State Farm. But, listing the former school teacher, shows he was around kids, and listing the former minister, shows he was trying to uphold a image. It is just game playing by the paper or they are kissing up to State Farm. All his jobs should be listed. Period! "

Just get rid wrote on Oct 17, 2007 11:49 PM:

" of organized religion and things will be lots better. "

SO SAD REGARDLESS wrote on Oct 17, 2007 11:23 PM:

" TO: I hope, "that I hope" would you be so quick to forgive if you have a son and this had happened to him? "

I hope ... wrote on Oct 17, 2007 10:31 PM:

" that 'I hope ...', should he or she ever find himself or herself in trouble, gets the same treatment that he or she wishes on this alleged criminal. Forgive not, lest ye be forgiven. "

I hope... wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:13 PM:

" If found guilty, he get sseparate sentences for each charge and they don't get rolled into one term but guarantee he's put away for the majority of the rest of his life! "

once again? wrote on Oct 17, 2007 4:50 PM:

" The first few weeks the original article ran mentioned the church he worked at by name, so stop trying to pull mysterious crap out of nothing. Go away. "

What does it matter.. wrote on Oct 17, 2007 4:07 PM:

" What does it matter where he worked when he worked with adults anyway? If he worked at Domino's Pizza, would you care or is it another slam against his current employer that you'd like to see? Seems like no matter what is printed in this paper everyone has to slam the West Side of this town and/or a certain company when it really has nothing to do with that!! "

Once again wrote on Oct 17, 2007 3:22 PM:

" His primary employer avoids mention in the article. Hmmm ... "
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