Former Arlington Heights teacher found guilty in Arizona of molesting boy
A one-time teacher at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights has been convicted of molesting an 11-year-old boy more than two decades ago in Arizona, before he took the job in Illinois.
A Yavapai County, Arizona, jury found Thomas Chantry, 48, guilty Wednesday of four counts of child molestation after a previous jury deadlocked on those same counts last fall.
Prosecutor Susan Eazer said Chantry, who was pastor at Miller Valley Baptist Church in Prescott, told the victim that God would punish him if the child reported the abuse.
Ryan Stevens, Chantry's attorney, questioned the accuracy of the court testimony and said a thorough police investigation had not been conducted.
Last August, the first jury found Chantry guilty of two counts of aggravated assault for severely spanking children.
He faces nine other charges in Arizona - four counts of aggravated assault, four counts of child molestation and one count of child abuse - stemming from allegations dating to between 1998 and 2000.
Chantry led the Arizona church before arriving at Christian Liberty Academy in 2002.
The Daily Herald last fall reported on a 2004 battery report filed with Arlington Heights police by parents of a 5-year-old Christian Liberty student alleging severe spanking by Chantry, but the parents decided not to press charges.
Chantry taught fifth and sixth grade at the school until 2006, when he began preaching full time at Christ Reformed Baptist Church in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.
He will be sentenced in Arizona on July 19.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.