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An assistant football coach and teacher at Carterville High School is the subject of an active criminal sexual abuse investigation — and newly surfaced school records reveal that the district had previously disciplined the same employee for inappropriate conduct involving students more than 15 years ago.
John "Jake" Wakey is the Carterville High School Football Coach Accused of Sexual Abuse in Illinois who was placed on leave as the Williamson County Sheriff's Office leads a criminal investigation into the alleged conduct. The Illinois State Board of Education has simultaneously launched a separate investigation into Wakey's teacher's license. Both agencies have served subpoenas on the Carterville school district.
The criminal investigation began following a tip received by the FBI in November 2024. Just three months later, in February 2025, the Carterville school district received two additional anonymous reports through FriendWatch — an online platform that allows students to report concerns anonymously — alleging that Wakey had sent inappropriate text messages to students. Wakey denied those allegations. The district said FriendWatch was unable to provide identifying information about the individuals who submitted the reports.
School records obtained through the Illinois Freedom of Information Act reveal that in December 2009, the Carterville Unit 5 District's Board of Education suspended Wakey for 10 days without pay following an eight-count notice of charges. Those charges included allegations that he inappropriately texted students, allowed students to remain in his home late at night without other adults present, drank in front of students before driving to a football game, and permitted students to remain in his home unsupervised. He did not face criminal charges at that time and initially denied those allegations as well.
School records also show that Wakey joined the Carterville district in the fall of 2003, just days after completing court supervision for a misdemeanor conviction for providing liquor to minors in Coles County.
At a school board meeting, Carterville School Board President David Schwartz addressed community members who questioned why the district had not acted sooner to place Wakey on administrative leave following the current investigation.
The factual information above was sourced from wqad.com as of June 3, 2026. The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.
When a school employee with a documented history of disciplinary action is later accused of sexual abuse, families often have questions about whether the institution bears civil responsibility for failing to act sooner. Legal Herald editor Paul Amess spoke with Illinois sexual abuse attorney Ervin Nevitt about the civil legal avenues that may be available in cases where prior warning signs of misconduct went unaddressed by a school district.
Paul Amess: Ervin, when a school employee accused of sexual abuse has a documented history of prior disciplinary action for inappropriate conduct involving students, what does that mean for the institution's potential civil liability?
Ervin Nevitt: A documented history of prior disciplinary action is one of the most significant factors in evaluating civil liability against a school district. When an institution was previously put on notice that an employee engaged in inappropriate behavior involving students — and chose to retain that employee rather than remove them — it can face serious civil exposure if that same employee later allegedly commits more serious harm. The question courts examine is whether the district's prior knowledge and response were adequate to protect the students in its care.
Paul Amess: In cases where anonymous reports were made about an employee's conduct and the school was unable to follow up due to a lack of identifying information, does that affect the institution's civil liability?
Ervin Nevitt: The inability to follow up on an anonymous report does not automatically shield an institution from civil scrutiny. What matters is whether the district took all reasonable steps available to it given the information it had — and whether the pattern of concerns, taken as a whole, should have prompted more decisive protective action. Families who have concerns about how a school handled warning signs about an employee have every right to speak with an experienced attorney to understand what civil options may be available.
Paul Amess: What would you say to a family in Illinois whose child may have had contact with a school employee who had a prior history of disciplinary action for inappropriate conduct?
Ervin Nevitt: Please speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Cases involving institutional knowledge of prior misconduct can be among the strongest grounds for civil claims, but time limits apply and early action is always in a family's best interest. An initial consultation is completely confidential and free of charge.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of sexual abuse or inappropriate conduct by a school employee in Illinois, you may have the right to pursue civil action and recover financial compensation. Contact The Legal Herald today to be connected with an experienced Illinois sexual abuse attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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