Edwardsville High School monitor accused of grooming released pending trial

An Edwardsville High School employee accused of sending sexually explicit messages to a student will be released before trial if he complies with certain conditions, a judge ordered Thursday.

James L. Williams Jr., identified at Thursday’s pretrial detention hearing as a hall monitor at the high school, was charged last week in Madison County Circuit Court with indecent solicitation of a child, a Class 2 felony; solicitation to meet a child, a Class 4 felony; and grooming, also a Class 4 felony.

Madison County Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Voudrie read aloud to the judge messages Williams allegedly sent a 16-year-old student. They included references to sexual acts and the student’s body, as well as mentions of meeting during spring break. At one point, Williams asked for the teen’s address, Voudrie said.

If Williams were released, Voudrie said, he could easily locate the 16-year-old on social media.

Voudrie also accused Williams of communicating with an 18-year-old. She did not detail those alleged messages.

Defense attorney Dawn Sheikh painted a different picture of Williams beyond the allegations against him. She said he recently moved back to the area because of family obligations and worked two other jobs in addition to his job at the high school. Neither of Williams’ other positions was in a school, she said.

Sheikh stressed that Williams and the 16-year-old never met and that he has no prior criminal record, though prosecutors mentioned an active major traffic warrant in Clinton County. While Sheikh said the behavior Williams is accused of is not “proper,” she asked that he not spend the time leading up to his trial in jail.

“I don’t think he’s a predator by nature,” Sheikh said. “He was just lonely and didn’t know people in the area.”

Associate Judge John Hackett ordered Williams released from jail until his trial under conditions. They include having no contact with the 16-year-old or any other minors except family members, and that he not visit any Illinois school grounds.

Voudrie said Edwardsville police were informed by the school resource officer Tuesday, March 31, of allegations involving Williams.

Interim Superintendent Allen Duncan sent an email to families on April 1. It said a report of alleged inappropriate communication between an unnamed high school employee and a student was made May 30, and that the Edwardsville Police Department coordinated its investigation with the Department of Children and Family Services.

The email said the employee was suspended without pay during the investigation.

The district could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

However, the school district’s public relations and communications coordinator, Mary Ann Mitchell, told the BND April 2, that the employee accused of the inappropriate communication “has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of this matter.”

She did not name Williams and said the district could not release more information.