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Ex-substitute teacher also faces federal child porn charges
By Edith Brady-Lunny
eblunny@pantagraph.com
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PEORIA -- A substitute teacher from Bloomington who taught in several Central Illinois school districts was indicted Tuesday on federal child pornography charges.

Scott W. Southerland was charged in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois with one count of receipt of child pornography and a single count of possession of child pornography.

Southerland was arrested last week in southern Indiana and will be transferred to Peoria, according to federal court officials. Southerland, of the 1400 block of South Oak Street, has relatives who live in Indiana.

The 49-year-old teacher also faces child-pornography possession charges in McLean County court. He was arrested in September after his housekeeper told police she found pornographic images of young boys while cleaning his home.

Southerland’s teaching career included a full-time assignment as a fourth-grade teacher at Atlanta Elementary School in 2000 and as a substitute teacher in District 87 and Unit 5; Colfax-based Ridgeview; Farmer City-based Blue Ridge; and Pontiac Elementary.

His name has been removed from a substitute teaching lists since his arrest.

He has pleaded not guilty to the McLean County charges. Convictions on those charges could mean four to 15 years in prison.

Southerland had been free on $2,500 in the local case.

If convicted on the federal charge involving receipt of child pornography, Southerland could face five to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The possession count carries a possible prison term of 10 years and a fine of $250,000.

Bloomington police and the Central Illinois Cybercrime Unit handled the investigation.

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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.

ONLY IN AMERICA- wrote on Nov 28, 2007 10:46 AM:

" The dumbing of America continues - just blame a teacher !!!! GOD HELP US ALL !! "
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