Antioch teacher denies sex assault charges

An Antioch grade school teacher formally denied accusations Monday that he sexually assaulted a onetime student at his McHenry County home in the late 1990s.

Wes L. Owens, 52, of Solon Mills, pleaded not guilty and asked for a jury trial on four counts of criminal sexual assault and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse stemming from allegations he had four separate encounters with the girl between March 1997, when she was 15 years old, and April 1999.

Owens, who is free on bond, last month pleaded not guilty to similar charges levied against him in Lake County involving the same girl.

His attorney, Albert Wysocki, said outside court Monday that Owens intends to fully fight the charges.

"He's a fine man, he's had a long career in education and his family is standing with him shoulder to shoulder," he said.

Lake County authorities arrested Owens, an instructor at Antioch Upper Grade School, in September after an investigation into a tip that he and the girl had an inappropriate relationship more than 12 years ago. The tip, authorities said, came from Kenneth Lee Johnson, 60, a former social studies teacher at Antioch Grade School who is now serving 3½ years in prison on child pornography charges.

Authorities said the girl, who now lives out of state, later confirmed Johnson's claims.

Wysocki, however, questioned the credibility of the informant Monday.

"He's a man who was prosecuted, convicted and sentenced, and now he comes out with these false accusations," he said. "I find it abhorrent."

Antioch Elementary District 34 placed Owens on paid administrative leave Aug. 31, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Owens is scheduled to return to court in the McHenry County case Dec. 21 for a pretrial status hearing. He faces up to 60 years in prison if found guilty of all charges.