Lincoln reenactor, who has performed in Sauk Valley, Ottawa areas, jailed on child pornography, prostitution charges

FREEPORT – Nationally known Abraham Lincoln impersonator George Buss of Freeport, who has been portraying Honest Abe for more than three decades at events in the Sauk Valley and Ottawa areas, and nationwide, is facing felony charges of possessing child pornography video and patronizing a prostitute.

Buss, 63, under investigation since February, was arrested Friday by Freeport police and is being held in Stephenson County Jail on $200,000 bond, Freeport police said in a news release.

Tyler Dotson, 22, of Leaf River, also was arrested in the investigation and is charged with two counts of disseminating child pornography video, and prostitution. He also is being held on $200,000 bond.

Buss has performed as Lincoln for 34 years across the country, including yearly at the reading of the Gettysburg Address at Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania and once before at the National Archives.

Buss and Stephen Douglas reenactor Tim Connors were to hold their annual portrayal of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglass debate in Freeport Saturday night, online this year because of COVID-19.

“The crimes George Buss stands accused of are heinous. I denounce him in the strongest of terms,” state Rep. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, said in a news release.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. May their voices be heard and may justice be quickly served.”