A press release from the Woodstock Police Department:

Child Sex Offender Arrest

On Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018, the Woodstock Police Department’s School Resource Officer who is assigned to the Woodstock High School at 501 W. South St. was notified by faculty members that a person whom they believed was a registered sex offender had entered the school building at the end of the previous school day when students were still present.

The Woodstock Police Department School Resource Officer and the Woodstock High School Administration reviewed the schools surveillance videos and located the subject in question.

James Cornelius IV

This subject was identified as James Cornelius IV, and the School Resource Officer confirmed that Cornelius IV is a Registered Child Sex Offender.

[The offense occurred when Cornelius was 18 and his victim was 15.]

The Woodstock High School surveillance video showed Cornelius IV enters the school building on October 1st, 2018 at approximately 4:00 p.m. and then exits at approximately 4:10 p.m.

Upon conferring with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, an arrest warrant was obtained for Cornelius IV for the charge of one count of Presence Within School Zone by Child Sex Offender.

On Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 at approximately 8:15 a.m., Cornelius IV was located by officers of the Woodstock Police Department in the 1200 block of Walden Oaks Dr. and taken into custody for the outstanding arrest warrant. Cornelius IV was in possession of cannabis at the time of his arrest.

Custody of Cornelius IV was then transferred to the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility.

He remains in custody at this time.

The Woodstock Police Department worked collectively with the faculty and administrators at the Woodstock High School and School District 200 during the entirety of this investigation.

The Woodstock Police Department continues to partner with School District 200 in making safety a top priority for all students and faculty.

Arrested Person: James Cornelius IV (M/B/22), 318 W. Calhoun St., Woodstock, IL 60098

Charges:

• 1 Count – Presence Within School Zone by Child Sex Offender (Class 4
  Felony)
• 1 Count – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Local Ordinance)

Court Date: To Be Set, Bond: $10,000 / 10%

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The public is reminded that an arrest is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case
are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law