McLean County prosecutors said Friday that a 43-year-old Unit 5 junior high school teacher made sexually suggestive remarks to a 13-year-old girl last year.
Among the things Brandon Knapp allegedly whispered into the ears of the child three decades his junior was a question about her favorite porn star. Knapp faces charges of grooming.
Assistant State’s Attorney Aaron Fredrick said in a probable cause statement that the girl told investigators Knapp had a book on his desk called Naked Drive Home about a girl and a boy being naked in a car. She told police Knapp would “call her up to his desk almost daily, get close to her, whisper inappropriate things in her ear, and tell her not to tell anyone.” In another incident he allegedly asked her what turned her on.
“He is a predator disguised as a junior high school teacher,” said Fredrick.
Defense Attorney Josh Rinker argued at Knapp's first court appearance Friday that the conduct was “dumb” and “morally questionable but not in and of themselves criminal.”
Fredrick’s rejoinder was that the only reason to make such comments to a 13-year-old is to test boundaries, see whether she is receptive, and to lure the girl into going further.
The probable cause statement indicated police also interviewed former students of Knapp, most of whom have now reached the age of maturity. They characterized Knapp as somewhat flirtatious towards the female students and that he treated female students differently than male students. They also reported experiencing a conversation about favorite porn stars.
Prosecutors alleged Knapp also visited the girl in other classes and suggested she had a crush on another teacher. The girl said Knapp asked her to “think about that teacher and her under a blanket with the lights dimmed” wondering “what more could she want.”
“Another former student told investigators that the defendant had communicated with her outside of school hours on her cell phone until her parents discovered the communication and stopped it. Another former student said the defendant sent her a Facebook message that he dreamed about her having sex with him when the former student was a freshman or sophomore,” said prosecutors.
Unit 5 investigated Knapp in 2024 and issued a letter of reprimand. Another set of allegations late in 2025 lead to a DCFS investigation and now formal charges.
Rinker used the results of the first investigation to suggest Knapp be released from jail before trial. He said since Unit 5 had not viewed Knapp’s remarks as threatening or dangerous, the court could safely release him with appropriate no-contact orders and perhaps electronic home monitoring.
Frederick said “the fact Unit 5 made a decision that might not have been the right one” should not bear on the decision to protect the public.
Rinker noted Knapp has cooperated with the school and DCFS investigators, has no prior criminal history and scored zero on a threat assessment test.
Frederick countered that Knapp’s conduct continued in a building "surrounded by mandatory reporters, children, and cameras," even after the conversation with Human Resources and the letter of reprimand, suggesting he cannot control his behavior and is a danger.
Chief Circuit Judge Casey Costigan noted court services cannot effectively monitor electronic communication Knapp might attempt to have with a child. Costigan ordered Knapp held at the McLean County jail before trial.
Knapp remains on paid leave from the Unit 5 school district.
The case has been assigned to Judge Bill Yoder. Knapp’s next court appearance is set for June 4.
Knapp is one of two Chiddix teachers who have been the subject of police investigations this year. The other was Drew Miller.
