Teacher Shoots Himself, Faced Child Porn Charges: Aurora Cops

AURORA, IL — A retired Aurora teacher wanted on child porn charges was found dead Saturday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police say. According to police, two men found the body of Robert L. James, 63, of the 1600 block of Garfield Ave., in a field in the 100 block of W. Indian Trail around 1:30 p.m.

James, who had retired from West Aurora School District 129, was charged with multiple felonies in 2016, including producing and possessing child pornography, indecent solicitation of a child, and sexual exploitation of a child. Police say James allegedly had pornographic images of children younger than 13 and exposed himself to a child he knew who was younger than 13 before soliciting a sex act from that child.

Related: Retired Teacher Exposed Himself To Child, Produced Child Porn: Police

At the time of his death, the retired teacher was out on bond after being arrested in early 2016. A warrant had been issued for James's arrest in February after he missed a court date.

After the child pornography charges were brought against James, a former student came forward to allege that James had a sexual relationship with her when she was a minor and he taught her in high school in the 1990s.

Image via Aurora Police Department