URBANA - Two girls sexually abused by Jon White, their former teacher at a Unit 5 school, have suffered lasting effects of the abuse, the children's parents told a judge Thursday at White's sentencing hearing.

White's family also testified about the impact the criminal case has had on them.

White pleaded guilty last month to sexually abusing two first-grade girls at Colene Hoose Elementary School in Normal and eight girls at Thomas Paine Elementary School in Urbana.

The parents of the two families from Normal read victim impact statements to Judge Harry Clem, the Champaign County judge who will determine White's sentence today.

In a tone filled with emotion, one father recalled how his daughter told him about a game White played with several female students during recess. The activity sounded odd, said the father, but he set aside his suspicions because he thought another student was in the room when the game was played.

"Little did I know that this was all part of the predatory plans of Jon White," said the parent. His name is not used because The Pantagraph does not identify victims of sexual abuse.

The former first-grade girl "shows signs of fear of male authority figures" and develops stomach aches when she has to be away from home, he said.

The parents of the second McLean County victim told the judge that their daughter's behavior is often emotional, and she sometimes talks back to them. The child feels some responsibility for the negative impact White's incarceration will have on his family, the child's father said.

Other family members have suffered, too, according to the parent.

"For me, personally, I do not go one day (without) thinking about Mr. White and wondering how he could have done this, how we didn't know and how anyone like him should be allowed to stay on this earth," he said.

Both families asked the judge to sentence White to the maximum term of 56 years.

White's parents and brother described White as a happy, caring person who played sports and delivered newspapers as a child.

Joyce White broke down on the witness stand as she talked about the family's life since her son's arrest.

"It's put all of us under a doctor's care and on medication. It's just devastating. It's unreal. It's like a nightmare that you can't wake up from," White's mother said.

Robert White said he took out loans against the family's assets and borrowed money to pay White's $175,000 bond.

White's father took several minutes to control his sobs before he responded to how the case has impacted his family.

"Devastating," he said.