Chicago Tribune




A former Des Plaines middle school teacher accused of carrying on an online relationship with a former student pleaded guilty last week to misdemeanor harassment through electronic communication, McHenry County state's attorney officials said.

Barrington resident Jack K. Pickup, 35, was arrested in early July of last year at his parents' home in Barrington and charged with felony grooming and misdemeanor sexual exploitation of a child, said Michael Combs, chief of the McHenry County state's attorney criminal division.

"Grooming" is defined as attempting to develop a sexual relationship with a minor through friendship.

Pickup, a former social studies teacher at Chippewa Middle School in Des Plaines, allegedly began communicating with the then-15-year-old student via Facebook, Combs said. The two initially met while the girl, who lives in an unincorporated area in McHenry County, was in the 7th grade, according to an earlier Tribune report.

The girl's father became aware of the communications and posed as his daughter, Combs said, at which time the conversation turned sexual in nature. At one point, Pickup allegedly sent a picture of his genitals to the girl's phone, Combs said, adding that the two never had physical contact.

The girl's father alerted authorities, Combs said.

Combs did not know when Pickup last taught at Chippewa Middle School. Mindy Ward, spokeswoman for District 62, confirmed that Pickup worked as a teacher at the school, but said she did not have information on when he last taught there.

Last week, Pickup pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment through electronic communication, Combs said. The other two charges were dismissed, according to McHenry County court records.

Pickup was sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge, 200 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay about $3,000 in fines and fees, court records show.

Pickup could not be reached for comment.