An Illinois church school teacher is facing felony charges after police say she sexually assaulted one boy at the school for years and send nude photos to another student.
CBS Chicago reports that 49-year-old Shannon Griffin is facing several felony charges, including solicitation of child pornography, criminal sexual assault, grooming, and distribution of harmful materials, in connection with two male students at Jordan Baptist School in Burbank.
According to police, the first incident began when Griffin started sending nude photos and giving alcohol to an underage student in exchange for sex. She later allegedly sent naked photos of herself via Snapchat to another student. After a thorough investigation, the Sheriff’s office announced that the alleged incidents started in 2013 and lasted until March 2019.
“The investigation also revealed that Griffin sent nude pictures and videos of herself to and requested nude pictures from the minor and another juvenile victim, also enrolled at the school,” a statement from Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s office read.
One of the boys reportedly told investigators that Griffin would chat with him on Snapchat and the conversation eventually turned sexual in nature when the teacher began asking the student about girls. She allegedly told him that she overheard girls talking about him and asked if he was dating anyone, according to court documents.
The boy reportedly said the teacher told him she heard he was “good in bed.” When the student asked the teacher if she would buy him alcohol, she complied but under the condition that he would “have sex with her,” according to ABC 7.
Prosecutors said the pair later engaged in oral sex at a nearby park, following additional encounters, where the pair allegedly had sex close to an industrial area. In some instances, she handed the boy alcohol afterward.
When the boy turned 18 in 2017, he reportedly gave Griffin a list of alcoholic drinks he wanted for a party. The pair then allegedly drove back to the industrial area and had sex before the boy handed Griffin $120 to purchase the alcohol, prosecutors said.
In 2018, Griffin started sending nude Snapchat photos to a 16-year-old boy at the school, police said. Although she covered her face in the photos, the student said he recognized Griffin’s tattoo in the photos, as well as her Snapchat name.
Griffin “vigorously denies” the accusations against her, according to her lawyer, Lori Levin, who claimed the truth would come out in court.
A judge set Griffin’s bond at $500,000 for the first case $250,000 for second case.
Griffin taught kindergarten classes at the private school, off of 5040 W 87th Street, where her husband is church pastor and administrator, and her two adult daughters are teachers. A former student said the woman’s husband was confronted about the alleged incidents, but he allegedly didn’t believe it and said, “the Lord will take care of it.”
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[Feature Photo: Shannon Griffin/Police Handout]
