Former Christian High School Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Students (Update)

Updated 6:24 p.m. April 2

Authorities have confirmed that Kenneth Martin, who is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, is no longer a teacher at Southwest Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights. He is accused of having a sexual relationship with two students starting in 2009.

Martin stopped being a teacher in the summer of 2009, Palos Heights police said.

Officials from Southwest Christian School released a statement Tuesday:

"As soon as school officials became aware of this allegation against our former employee, the matter was reported to the authorities and we have been cooperating with the investigation. The individual has not been employed by our school since 2009."

Original story

A former Chicago Christian High School music teacher is accused of having sex with two former students, one of whom was 16 years old.

Kenneth Martin, 34, of the 1500 block of West 83rd Place in Chicago, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to Palos Heights police. His bail was set Tuesday at $100,000.

Martin had an inappropriate sexual relationship with students in 2009 while he was their music teacher at the Palos Heights Christian school, according to police. His legal name was Kenneth Whitney at that time.

The two students, one 16 years old when the relationship with Martin happened, came forward to police in April 2012, according to authorities.

Palos Heights police have worked over the past year with Orland Park Police and the Chicago Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory. They found no evidence of other potential accusers.

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