Accused predator to change plea
BY JOSEPH BUSTOS
SVN REPORTER
jbustos@svnmail.com
Former physical education teacher Charles W. Christopher, who is accused of trying to solicit sex online with underage girls, has a change-of-plea hearing scheduled Thursday in federal court in Davenport, Iowa.
Christopher, 29, of Rock Falls, pleaded not guilty in May to two counts of attempting to entice a minor to engage in illicit sexual activities. That crime carries a sentence of five to 30 years. It is not known if he is pleading to those or amended charges. He has been in custody since April. His trial was to begin Oct. 9.
Christopher allegedly used a school computer to solicit sex from what he thought were 13- and 11-year-old girls. Instead, he was chatting with an undercover Burlington, Iowa, police officer who was conducting an online child-predator sting, investigators said.
He was charged in Whiteside County Circuit Court with 16 counts of soliciting sex from a minor - one for each conversation he allegedly had with the officer, from April to September 2006. Those charges were dropped in April when federal charges were filed. He also is accused of sending an electronic picture of himself and parts of his body to the undercover officer.
After his arrest, he allegedly admitted to contacting 10 other girls online.
Christopher, who taught at Challand Middle School and was Sterling High School's head wrestling coach, was fired in December.
He had filed a motion in July to dismiss the charges against him, claiming the charges were too vague. U.S. District Judge John Jarvey denied the motion last month.
Reach Joseph Bustos at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 529.
