Official charges filed: four counts Criminal Sexual Assault, four counts Official Misconduct
Todd Fort, from Jackson County jail
SALINE CO.—Authorities in Saline County have confirmed official charges against chief deputy/school board president Todd Fort: Four counts of Criminal Sexual Assault, each of them a Class 1 felony, and four counts of Official Misconduct, also felonies.
Fort was arrested by ISP officials very early this morning, this arrest being confirmed to Disclosure at about 6:30 07.20.10.
Fort is accused of having an ongoing sexual relationship with a student at Harrisburg high school, this relationship beginning when the girl was 16; she is currently 17.
The four counts of Criminal Sexual Assault are alleged to have taken place between May 1 and July 19, 2010. Each are punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The incidents are alleged to have occurred at Fort’s residence.
The four counts of Official Misconduct arose from Fort “acting in his official capacity,” allegedly having sex with the girl during her lunch break from school, or during their lunch break at the Saline County Sheriff’s Department. The girl had been working with Fort for a number of months as an intern at the SCSD.
1228 Webster, earlier this morning
A search warrant for Fort’s residence at 1228 Webster in Harrisburg is currently being executed (beginning at 4:35 p.m. this afternoon). A neighbor with a key had to be called to open the house and retrieve a little dog and accoutrements from the residence.
There is no official word on where Fort’s daughter, age 12, is currently. Unofficially, it’s been reported to Disclosure that DCFS officials have been notified of the situation, so she may be in their custody. Fort remains jailed at the Jackson County detention facility in Murphysboro on a quarter-million dollar bail ($25,000 cash bond.) First appearance information will be coming in the morning (or sooner if we can get it).
Short URL: http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/?p=3993
Posted by Chris Beavers
on Jul 20 2010. Filed under Saline.
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I have to agree with Hannah . When i went to school I dont remember or recall many virgins there and we was all 15-18 yrs of age . Girls now days are more promiscuous and prefer older than those there own age from what I’ve seen and heard . Maybe I’m wrong …
I doubt if a girl had buck teeth,thick glasses and acne she would of ever been accepted to intern,,,,,
I guess I’m Old School. I was a virgin when I got married at 17 but believe me I certainly was not an adult. I did not act like an adult, I did not think like an adult because I did not have the maturity and wisdom of an adult. It doesn’t matter if this girl was “fast” or not. She is a kid. And Hannah I don’t think any less of you because our opinions differ. I realize the world has changed SO MUCH since back in my days. I’m well close to 60 yrs. old and I’m sure you all are much younger so you’ve grown up seeing a different world than I did. Hannah, I love lemonade but I’m tellin’ ya now…I’M NOT GONNA DRINK THE KOOLAID !…
Speaking as a parent!! At the age of 16-17 years old, a parent is still teaching their children, right from wrong! Yes, they know everything at this age, but they also learn a lot at this age! Fort, being the adult and a parent also, should have never let this happen! I do understand Hannah what your saying about the girl could have been around a few times. It still doesn’t make it right for a grown man to take advantage of her. Even if he knew that she was willing to have sex with him, he should never have let that happen!! I don’t care if she sat on his desk naked, he is the adult in this situation and he’s the one to blame for ever letting it get this far! He was after one thing and was getting it until he got caught. He didn’t care that she was a young girl, she was just a piece of *ss to him!! It’s hard raising girls and creeps like him make it even harder!
Hats off to oscar. The statement he made is true all the way and I wish more people thought the same way as some of us. Thanks for puttin it on here like that
I have a question for all the Todd Fort family members, friends, and supporters…If it was YOU being charged with the same crimes he currently is, would he give you the same support? Would he put his job and reputation on the line to stand beside you? I don’t think he would…just some food for thought.
what in the world ever happened to walking away or saying NO…I think they were both having a swell time and again thought they would not get caught..since she was promiscuous with him, he was probably someone who knew how to treat her and so it goes…boys her age are still boys…just watch TV and movies these days and see what our kids have watched this generation…not sure they think it is wrong…it’s just a good time while it lasts. Hey it was fun…and we do not ever ever think of the consequences…and this is gonna be a hard fall for both.
I sure hope the court steps in and requires counseling for her..this will be with her for long years of her life and she may really like TF. Do any of you rem teenage crushes…?
RED, you’re right about a girl’s physical attributes getting her into a position such as that. And Oscar, I raised one girl and several boys. Boys are much easier, or so I thought at the time anyway. I worried about my girl every time she walked out the door because she was BEAUTIFUL. Still is.
But, Eileen, I’m from the old school too and I have a few years on you. Not many more, but a few. So I speak from experience as a young bride and mother myself. While the rest of the girls my age were getting ready to go to prom, I was having yet another baby to make the second. Nobody helped me rasie my babies, so I had to grow up fast. I probably missed a great deal by not experiencing a lot of high school events. And naturally, the marriage didn’t last because I was way too young. However, I was a single parent the biggest part of the time and nobody knows better than I do what it’s like to be responsible for teenagers. I thank God every day that they all grew up to be fine young adults and didn’t cause me any trouble…maybe a little heartache, but no trouble. I’ve often thought how I would re-act if a man had done the same thing to my daugher back then. I have to say that I honestly don’t know. I guess we don’t know what we’d do unless we’re faced with a certain situation.
From what I’ve heard about this girl’s father, I think Fort was smart in running from him. I do hear he’s BIG and MEAN. I know deep down that there are some good parents whose kids haven’t exactly walked the line or behaved as the parents expected, but for some this wasn’t because they weren’t cared for and loved and brought up in church. I’m puzzled really as to what goes wrong with kids today, if it’s peer pressure, boredom, lack of affection. Hell, who knows. And really, nobody should judge a situation if the don’t know all the FACTS. So let’s have some cookies and a cold refreshment, Eileen. Sounds better all the time.
Hooyah Oscar. Well said. Doesn’t matter what she did or didn’t do, how experienced she is or isn’t, etc etc. SHE IS A TEENAGER AND HE IS A 40SOMETHING YEAR OLD MAN! As a 47 year old man with a teenage daughter, I can safely say what Fort did is never ok and it is 100% on him. Regardless of what the girl did or didn’t do. If a 40 year old man can give in to the wiles of a teenage girl or would pursue a teenage girl, he is a scumbag, predator, piece of shit, in need of 1 round behind the ear. It’s difficult enough keeping the 19-22 year olds at bay from teenage daughters. Shouldn’t have to even consider worrying about the 40 something set. Hey any male past the age of 25 has lost out to a girl in high school because she dated older guys. Older in that they went to SIC and we were still in HS. NOT OLD ENOUGH TO BE A GRANDPARENT!! Can’t you see the difference between the older guy being 20 and the older guy being 44?? WTF.
President of the Harrisburg School Board? That says a lot about the rest of the board who voted for him who is supposed to be the most respected member of the board!
I hadn’t thought about that JEB.You have a very good point!
Is there any more Cops on the School Boards in Saline County?
It is time to look into everythjing they are involved in.They may have a reason we don’t like .
My guess is he became President because no one else wanted to do it. I have served on boards before. It is diffcult to get anyone to be in charge. The President and the Secretary get all of the calls and problems. The rest of the board members show up for the meetings.