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Accused teacher confronted by parent at store

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CHAMPAIGN - A former Unit 5 teacher charged with molesting students in Champaign and McLean counties was involved in an altercation with the father of one of the children while shopping at a toy store.

Jon White was at Toys R Us in Champaign last week when the parent of one of the girls he's accused of molesting at Thomas Paine Elementary School began screaming at him.

Police were called but no charges have been filed.

Champaign County State's Attorney Julie Reitz declined to answer questions Tuesday about the incident.

Under the terms of his bond, White is allowed supervised visits with his daughter. He also is allowed to visit with young family members during specific holiday events, according to a judge's ruling.

White is free on $175,000 bond pending his trial in late February in Decatur.

In McLean County, the 27-year-old teacher faces two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving two first-graders at Colene Hoose Elementary School, Normal, where he taught from 2003 to 2005.

White was arrested in February in Champaign County and charged with molesting nine students at the Urbana school where he taught after leaving the Normal-based Unit 5 school district.

Champaign County Judge Harry Clem ruled Monday that a Macon County jury will hear a taped interview a child gave to Florida child advocates about White. The child's family moved to Florida after the molestation charges were filed against White.

The girl's father and the interviewer were in Urbana for a hearing Monday on the reliability of the child's testimony.

Clem had previously ruled that the testimony of the other 10 alleged victims will be allowed during White's trial. The two McLean County children may be called to testify in the Champaign County case as prosecutors attempt to introduce "other bad acts" White is accused of committing in classrooms.

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