Nov 30, 2007 - Matthew Gale, 28, a special education teacher at West Prairie High School, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal sexual abuse.
The teacher who, the Peoria Journal-Star said had a 2006 sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student, pleaded to the lesser charge and is expected to be sentenced to probation in February.
An agreement with prosecutors calls for Gale to be sentenced to 30 months of probation and $1,100 in fines and 180 days in the county jail. He will serve 60 days in jail beginning Feb. 8, and the 120-day balance will be deferred if he is in compliance with probation. The conviction requires Gale to register as a sex offender, and he is forbidden from being anywhere children younger than 18 congregate, including a school.The investigation began with a call from another teacher to an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services hotline. Gale now lives in Florida.
SENTENCED Feb 29, 2008 - Gale was sentenced to to 60 days in jail - not prison - for criminal sexual abuse of a student. Matthew Gale also will have to serve 30 days probation and pay $1,700 in fines and court costs. The sentence called for 180 days, but 120 days were stayed to monitor his probation compliance.
He will have to register as a sex offender.
