More details in case against Morton HS teacher accused of child seduction
By Maria Amante mamante@post-trib.com | 648-3072 June 20, 2012 3:56PM
Benjamin Chinn. | Provided Photo~Sun-Times Media
Updated: June 25, 2012 9:20PM
A Morton High School teacher faces up to six years in prison after being accused of child seduction.
Benjamin Anthony Chinn is the boys basketball coach and a teacher at Morton High School and is accused of two counts child seduction, which are Class D felonies.
Court documents allege Chinn allegedly forced a 17-year old female student to touch his genitalia and perform oral sex on him. Both incidents allegedly happened on school grounds.
According to a probable cause affidavit from the Lake County prosecutor’s office, Chinn invited the girl to his classroom to watch a movie he was showing his class.
She sat next to him in the front of the room when he placed her hands on his genitalia through his clothing. The girl said by the way the two were positioned, there were no witnesses.
Chinn invited her to his office and the pair kissed for approximately one minute.
She said his hands were around her waist or touching her butt while they kissed.
On a third occasion, Chinn requested the girl perform oral sex on him.
She initially was hesitant, and then after some time had passed that day, she went to his office and the act took place.
Chinn, through his attorney, Scott King, denied all accusations on Tuesday.
“It started with hallway rumors,” King said. “There’s no reference in the probable cause affidavit to any form of physical evidence. They’ve taken the word of someone and thrown these charges out there. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
King said that Chinn’s reputation has been tarnished.
“Those are her allegations, and again, what I’m looking at, there’s not an ounce of corroboration on anything,” King said. “We’re going to be aggressive in our defense of this. He denies anything close to this even happened. I’m chagrined. No matter what the results of the (criminal trial), he’s gonna have a difficult time finding work in his chosen profession.”
