Former teacher denies child porn charge
A former teacher at Antioch Grade School pleaded not guilty to possession of child pornography Wednesday in Lake County circuit court.
Kenneth Lee Johnson, 59, faces up to five years in prison if convicted of any of the 10 counts against him.
Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said the FBI notified local officials that they suspected Johnson had child pornography in the computer at his home in the 400 block of Main Street in Wauconda.
On Jan. 20, police armed with a search warrant went to Johnson's apartment and found more than 1,000 photographs and 100 video clips of child pornography.
In addition to admitting he had collected the pornography, police said Johnson claimed to have molested as many as 75 boys during the past 35 years.
Sheriff's investigators interviewed scores of people Johnson named, Stanton said, and were unable to confirm any abuse.
Johnson taught social studies at the Antioch school since 1989, but suspended immediately after his arrest and has since resigned his position.
Circuit Judge John Phillips scheduled a trial of the case for April 6 and ordered Johnson, who is being held on $500,000 bond, to appear in court again March 26.