Abraham Lincoln Impersonator Arrested On Child Porn Charges

FREEPORT, IL —A retired teacher who made nationwide appearances as an Abraham Lincoln impersonator was arrested at his Illinois home Friday, accused of producing child pornography. He was also charged with misdemeanor patronizing a prostitute. A second man, 22-year-old Tyler Dotson, was also arrested on similar charges.

George Buss, 63, was arrested in Freeport Friday morning. His bond was set at $200,000, meaning he would have to come up with $20,000 to be released. As of Monday afternoon, he was still in custody at the Stephenson County Sheriff's Office, according to jail records.

Multiple outlets, including Newsweek, reported that Buss was a well-known Lincoln impersonator and re-enactor. Buss' website, GeorgeBecomesLincoln.com, which appears to have been deleted, said, "Tall, thin, and bearded, George was frequently told of his resemblance to Honest Abe as he reached adulthood and entered the teaching profession." The now-defunct site said Buss spent more than 30 years appearing at schools, historical societies, the Illinois State Fair, Gettysburg and Civil War and Lincoln-Douglas debate re-enactments, as well as appearances as Ford's Theater, where the 16th president was shot.

Buss worked at Freeport School District 145 as the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) district director prior to retiring in 2018 and was previously vice president for equity with the teachers union, NBC 15 reported.

Police said Dotson was also charged with two counts of disseminating child porn video and patronizing a prostitute. Dotson's bond was also set at $200,000 and he remained in jail as of Monday afternoon.

Freeport police said the two were arrested after an ongoing investigation that began in February.