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Waukegan teacher denies porn charges

A veteran teacher in the Waukegan school system pleaded not guilty Wednesday to child pornography charges.

Joshua Rich, 53, of the 100 block of Austin Street in Libertyville, was arrested Sept. 6 after officials at Miguel Juarez Middle School videotaped him viewing child pornography on a school computer.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Stanton said Rich, who is an art teacher and has worked for Waukegan Unit District 60 for 13 years, used a flash drive with its own web browser to bypass the school’s web filter.

School officials noticed unusual activity and set up surveillance cameras near selected faculty computers, Stanton said, and Rich was caught on tape visiting pornographic websites.

Waukegan police confiscated Rich’s flash drive, Stanton said, and found it contained images of child pornography.

Rich was arrested Sept. 6 and is barred from any contact with school property or children under the age of 18 as a condition of his bond.

Stanton said there is no evidence any students were victimized by Rich.

Associate Judge George Bridges scheduled a trial for Jan. 3 and ordered Rich to appear in court Dec. 1.

Stanton said Rich faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted, but would also be eligible for probation.

Cops: Waukegan art teacher viewed child pornography at school

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