Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog

Kane County prosecutors have filed charges against Stephen P. Orland, a band teacher at West Aurora High. Orland, who had been teaching at the high school for 19 years, was suspended last May after charges were announced stemming from allegations of sexual abuse.

According to court documents filed by prosecutors, The teacher was confronted by the school’s superintendant after a janitor reported seeing him hugging a female student in the band room. The janitor also stated that the teacher ran away immediately after seeing the janitor. The documents filed also allege that following this incident the district superintendent warned Orland that he could be fired if found alone with a female student.

Kane County authorities also allege that Orland engaged in sexual acts with female students on school grounds. In Illinois, there are circumstances where employers, such as schools, may be held liable for sexual abuse committed by their employees. In those types of cases it is important to determine whether the employer knew or reasonable should have known of similar allegations of sexual abuse by its employee or of potential danger of such abuse, but continued to employ that person or allow him or her access to children.

To speak with an experienced sex abuse lawyer from the Klest Injury Law Firm,click here, or dial 866-264-7639, for a free consultation.

Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn signed legislation this week that limits a convicted sex offender’s ability to have contact with children that were conceived as a result of sexual abuse. The law protects those children by blocking the convicted sex offender father from any proceedings in child protection cases. The new rule also prevents the convicted sex offender father from receiving access to the victim or court appointed counsel in those cases. The law does not relieve the offender of his obligation to pay child support. Other states, including New York and New Jersey have similar measures in place.

To speak to an experienced child sexual abuse lawyer at the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

A Waukegan, IL, preacher was sentenced to 18 years in prison today for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor. The preacher, 59 year-old Kevin Eubanks, reportedly signed a typed statement at the Waukegan Police Department which confessed to the sexual abuse. He was convicted on April 28, 2011, of fondling an 11 year old girl on two separate occasions in August of 2008. He has reportedly been in custody since his arrest in July of 2009.

Eubanks worked as a pastor at Baptist churches in both North Chicago, IL, and Zion, IL. The prosecution asked for a sentence of 23 years for Eubanks. Both the sexual abuse victim and her mother testified at trial. According to reports, the victim testified during the April trial against Eubanks reporting that he told her to remain quiet about the sexual abuse. Her mother sobbed as she described her daughter’s coming forward and her confrontation with Eubanks. She testified that Eubanks swore on a Bible that he did not touch the minor girl. Defense attorneys for Eubanks asked the judge to consider the fact that Eubanks had a relatively clean criminal record in sentencing. Eubanks’s attorney will reportedly appeal the conviction.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual abuse, you should speak with an Illinois personal injury attorney to assess a potential claim. To speak with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer, please click here.

A south suburban youth coach and teacher has been charged with childhood sexual abuse. The accused, 24 year old Darrell Stephenson of Crest Hill, IL, was charged on Monday with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse – a class two felony that carries at least three years of incarceration. Stephenson was arrested last Friday and his bail has reportedly been set at $750,000.00. The charges stem from alleged sexual contact with a twelve year old boy.

Stephenson had been a boys’ volleyball coach at Plainfield Central High School in 2007 and 2008 and a student teacher at Aux Sable Middle School in 2008 and 2009. Stephenson was also reportedly a soccer coach in south suburban Frankfort, Joliet and Plainfield. In this capacity, he had recently coached soccer programs in Frankfort, Joliet, and Plainfield areas. Most of the soccer coaching was done through the Christian Youth Soccer League in Joliet, IL. The Will County Sheriff’s Office has not disclosed whether the alleged sexual abuse victim was involved in the youth soccer league or not. Police are still investigating whether Stephenson had any other inappropriate sexual conduct with minors. Citizens with any information regarding these or any other sexual abuse allegations are urged to contact police at (815) 727-8574.

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse and would like to speak to a Chicago area injury lawyer with over twenty nine years handling civil sexual abuse cases, please click here.

A former Chicago school teacher has been charged with childhood sexual abuse for allegedly assaulting four different former students at a Northwest side school. The teacher. 34 year old Eliza Marinelli, now faces four counts of criminal sexual assault. Bail for Martinelli has reportedly been set at 1.5 million dollars. Chicago Police have indicated that the crimes were not reported until April of this year. Her brother, 27 year old Nelson Quintana, has also been charged with one count of misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse involving another student.

The acts of childhood sexual abuse allegedly occurred from 1998 through 2007 while Martinelli was a teacher at the Dayspring Christian Academy at 5133 W. Fullerton Ave. All of the alleged victims were students of the Dayspring Academy and members of the neighboring Dayspring Church where Martinelli’s father is a pastor. Her father is reportedly listed as the principal on the school’s online directory. The alleged sexual abuse victims include a 15 year old girl whom she is accused of abusing from 1998 through 2001, a 15 year old girl and her brother whom she is accused of abusing for about a year beginning in March of 2003, and a 14 year old girl who was a student of Martinelli in both 6th and 8th grades whom she is accused of abusing up through March of 2007. Martinelli has been accused of telling sexy stories, plying teens with alcohol, and performing sexual acts on the victims.

Victims of childhood sexual abuse can often bring civil claims even when the abuse occurred years ago. To speak with an experienced Chicago sexual abuse attorney, please click here.

The Klest Law Firm set a milestone victory for sexual abuse victims this week when they received a 28 million dollar verdict in the matter of Snyder v. Kenny. The verdict represents the largest civil sexual abuse verdict in Illinois history and is among the largest in the country. The jury verdict was returned on Tuesday afternoon at the Daley Center after about two hours of deliberation. The jury awarded Snyder seven million in compensatory damages and 21 million in punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish a wrongdoer and also deter others from similar conduct.

It was a very emotional scene as Larry Snyder took the stand and chronicled over four years of graphic and disturbing sexual abuse. He testified that he was molested at least three times a week over the course of four years. He eventually dropped out of high school and came to live with the sexual abuser for almost a year. His life continued to spiral downwards as he became addicted to heroin. The verdict is a testament to the strength of Larry Snyder and the jury’s desire to expose and punish the man that tormented him as a child. The verdict also sends a message to the broader community that childhood sexual abuse will not be tolerated.

If you have any questions about the record setting verdict or would otherwise like to speak with the Klest Law Firm, please click here.

SEE ALSO:

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8153603

http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/5606987-418/midlothian-man-to-pay-28m-for-sexual-abuse-of-boy.html

A Fairfield, IL, gym teacher has been terminated on the heels of allegations that she had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student. The teacher, 29 year old Haven A. Kirkpatrick of Carmi, IL, was a tenured physical education teacher at Fairfield Community High School. According to reports, the teacher is accused of having unlawful sexual contact with a student at the High School. She has been suspended with pay since her arrest in July on eight felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. A circuit court judge found probable cause to bind Kirkpatrick over to trial on the sexual abuse charges in February. A pre-trial hearing on the felony sexual abuse charges has been set for May 11th at the Wayne County Circuit Court. The accused teacher is facing three to seven years in prison on each of the eight counts.

The Fairfield Community High School Board voted unanimously to fire the tenured teacher on Tuesday night at a specially called meeting. The meeting was reportedly called after Illinois DCFS released its findings relative to the abuse allegations. DCFS officials in Chicago have confirmed that an official sexual abuse finding was made in February and that Kirkpatrick has been placed on an internal sex offender registry list. The list is accessible to schools and other organizations that hire individuals that are in direct contact with young children. Kirkpatrick still has the right to request a hearing through the State Board of Education.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual abuse, you should contact a lawyer immediately to investigate the matter and protect your rights. To speak with an Illinois sexual abuse victims’ rights lawyer, please click here.

Federal prosecutors have asked a northern Indiana child porn convict who is currently serving an 11 year sentence on child pornography charges to pay almost $1 million dollars in restitution to one of his victims. The convicted felon, Mark Ontiveros, now faces a restitution request of $984,000.00 filed this Tuesday at a federal court in Hammond, IN. The requested funds are intended to help the child pornography victim cover costs of future counseling, educational, vocational counseling, lost earnings, and litigation and attorneys fees. The Times of Munster newspaper has reported that Ontiveros has already paid $236,000.00 in restitution to the child pornography victim.

Ontiveros was sentenced last week to eleven years in prison on the heels of a conviction for possessing and receiving more than 1,000 images of child pornography. Some of the child pornography victims were as young as four years old. Only information related to the restitution of one victim has been released to date.

If you have been the victim of child pornography, there may be avenues of civil recovery available to you. You may be entitled to monetary damages even if the abuser has been criminally convicted. To find out more about child pornography victims’ rights or to speak with an attorney, please click here.

An enormous international child pornography ring was busted earlier this week by European authorities. The international police initiative identified nearly 670 suspects and about 230 child pornography victims in thirty countries. The international pedophile ring itself is thought to be the world’s largest with more 70,000 members. Reports have indicated that 184 suspects have been arrested so far including teachers, police officers, and scout leaders. Most of the detained individuals have been accused of directly abusing children. The police action was spearheaded by a European police agency called Europol as part of its Operation Rescue. A spokesman for Europol has commented that the pornography ring is probably the largest of its kind in the world.

A spokesperson for the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released a statement indicating that there have been five arrests and four convictions within the U.S. as a result of the investigation and bust. Specific arrests have been made in both Georgia and Connecticut. The investigation included authorities from thirteen countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the U.K. The site operated from a server based out of the Netherlands and reportedly at one time had up to 70,000 members. The site administrator aided authorities in breaking encryption measures following his arrest. Police identified members of the site that posed the greatest risk to children leading to the aforementioned arrests. Investigators also posed as children online as part of the investigation. The investigation is expected to yield more arrests.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of child pornography, you might be entitled to civil recovery. To speak with an attorney about child pornography victims’ rights, please click here.

A Northbrook, IL, woman has been arrested and charged with two counts of soliciting a minor for child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. The woman, Paula R. Ferdkoff, was released last Saturday February 19th from Lake County Jail after posting bond. She has been accused of asking a 14 year old girl to participate with her in a pornographic photo shoot. The photos were taken at Digital Effects studio in Lincolnshire, IL. Reports indicate that a phone number for Digital Effects studio has been disconnected. Authorities believe that the inappropriate photography session was an isolated event.

The photos surfaced last August when the mother of the minor sexual abuse victim uncovered them on a computer in the family household. The woman recognized the accused in the photos and confronted her about them before contacting the Glenview Police. The accused reportedly told the Police that she was an aspiring actress and she felt that the photos would help her advance her career. An investigation by the Police uncovered a compact disc in the vehicle of the accused containing the erotic photos. The police then seized several other items containing the pornographic images including computers and cell phones. Authorities are still investigating other individuals involved in the creation and dissemination of the photographs.

If you would like to speak with an attorney regarding the sexual abuse victims’ rights or child pornography victims’ rights, please click here.

Lake County, IL, prosecutors have confirmed that a senior deputy for the Lake County coroner’s office has been charged with offenses related to the sexual abuse of a teenage girl. The accused, 42 year old Robert Barrett of Lindenhurst, IL, has been accused of repeated molestation of a teenage girl according to a spokesperson for the Office of the Lake County State’s Attorney. That spokesperson also indicated that the childhood sexual abuse victim claimed that the inappropriate contact had occurred about two to three times a week over an unspecified time period. A witness reportedly saw the deputy in a compromising position with the alleged sexual abuse victim on Sunday. The sexual abuse victim has been taken to the Children’s Advocacy Center for interviewing.

Barrett was arrested on Sunday when he showed up for work at the Lake County Coroner’s Office according to Lake County Coroner Richard Keller. The accused was then taken to Vista Medical Center West in Waukegan for evaluation for fear that he might be suicidal. He has been placed on administrative leave pending a police investigation into the sexual abuse allegations. The State’s Attorneys office has indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming pending the outcome of that investigation. The Lake County Coroner did not comment on the matter citing the fact that it is an ongoing investigation.

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse in or around Chicago, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible. If you would like to contact an Illinois sexual abuse attorney with more than twenty nine years of experience, please click here.

A Lake Zurich high school drama teacher was charged with aggravated criminal sexual
abuse earlier this week following allegations that the teacher had an inappropriate
relationship with a student. The teacher, Ronald D. Culver of Inverness, IL, resigned
his position at Lake Zurich High School and turned himself into authorities on Monday
night. He has reportedly been released on $10,000.00 bail. According to reports,
the sexual abuse allegations came to light last Thursday when a student reported an
inappropriate relationship to a school administrator. The Lake Zurich Police were
immediately contacted and performed an investigation determining that a relationship did
in fact exist between Culver and a student.

Culver was first hired in 1994 as a speech and drama teacher at a middle school within
the school district. He was subsequently hired to teach English at Lake Zurich High
School. He had been a full time English and drama teacher at the high school since
2001. The charges against Culver carry a possible sentence of 3 to 7 years in jail. Local
authorities are asking anyone with information that might be relevant to the charges
against Culver to contact Lake Zurich Police Officer Denise Bradstreet at 847-719-1695.

Sexual abuse victims may have claims against not only their abusers but also any
institution that may have allowed the abuse to proliferate. If you would like speak to a
Chicago attorney with almost thirty years of experience handling sexual abuse claims in
Illinois, please click here.

A Rockford, IL, youth pastor was formally charged with more than twenty counts of sexual abuse earlier this week after two alleged victims came forward. The accused, 54 year old Terry Carlson of Rockford, IL, held a number of titles and responsibilities with Kishwaukee Baptist Chuch in Rockford, IL. He had spent time as a church bus driver, church trustee, and Sunday school instructor over the last several years. Investigators and the Winnebago County State’s Attorney are now urging anyone with information or similar allegations relative to Carlson to come forward.

Investigators have not revealed whether the alleged sexual abuse occurred on church grounds. Bond for the alleged childhood sexual abuse perpetrator has been set at half a million dollars. Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato is qouted, “If you have as a parent, any information that you feel like before, didn’t make sense to you, or that you didn’t report now would be the time to so.”

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse in Chicago or any of the surrounding suburbs, you should consider contacting an attorney to explore potential avenues of recovery and protect your rights. For more information on sexual abuse in Illinois, please click here.

A Chicago Tribune investigation has uncovered at least eighteen case of reported rape or childhood sexual abuse at Chicago area psychiatric hospitals and facilities since July of 2008. The study determined that the alarmingly high number of abuse cases was due in part to facility failure in properly supervising patients and also failing to report many abuse cases to the authorities. The Chicago area sexual abuse victims were youths with serious mental illnesses housed at state funded institutions. Some of the victims were as young as seven years old. Of the eighteen cases of abuse uncovered by the investigation, all but four of the children were wards of the state.

Many critics are pointing the finger at Illinois DCFS and the Illinois Department of Health, which is responsible for the licensing and inspection of medical facilities in the State of Illinois, for the staggering amount of abuse. These agencies have claimed that their ability to effectively protect youth patients is seriously hampered by weak laws and insufficient funding. There has been no state action taken against any of the half dozen psychiatric hospitals where the bulk of the abuse has reportedly occurred.

One of those institutions, Chicago Lake Shore Hospital, has had three reports of sexual assault and abuse. One of these incidents involved the rape of a 15 year old girl by three male patients while another saw the abuse of an 11 year old boy by two male patients in a bathroom that was supposed to have been locked and supervised by staff. The Tribune investigation was based upon police reports, public health records, DCFS documents and court files.

Institutional sexual abuse is a problem that can be prevented if proper steps are taken. If you or someone you know has been the victim of institutional sexual abuse, you should contact a Chicago sexual abuse attorney to discuss your case. The Klest Law Firm has over twenty eight years of experience handling sexual abuse cases in Illinois. To speak with an attorney, please click here.

A suburban Chicago priest was sentenced to four years in prison by a Kane County judge last week for the sexual abuse of a minor boy. The Roman Catholic priest, Alejandro Flores, had previously attempted suicide as allegations that the priest had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact were heating up. Flores entered a guilty plea to the charges on September 8, 2010. The Chicago area priest, who is a native of Bolivia, will likely face deportation when his sentence ends.

According to reports, Flores had started abusing the boy over a five year period in 2005 after he had ingratiated himself to the family. The child and his family were parishioners at St. Mary Catholic Church in West Chicago, IL. The abuse continued for about five years. Reports indicate that Flores had also attempted to engage the child’s older brother in sexual acts but the boy refused. New reports also indicate that Diocesan officials had some misgivings about ordaining Flores as he had been reprimanded for spending time alone with a boy in a vehicle in 2005, had viewed male pornography on a church owned computer and had also admitted that he had been sexually abused as a boy to two church supervisors. Flores was ordained in 2009. Diocese officials were made aware of the relationship between Flores and the victim by the victim’s mother in late 2009.

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, you should retain a lawyer experienced in handling these sensitive and difficult matters. For more information on obtaining an attorney, please click here.

A longtime Chicago Ridge village secretary and mother of three has been accused of using alcohol and marijuana to manipulate teenagers into engaging in sexual activity with her. The woman, Cathleen M. Miller, is accused of sexually molesting four of her daughter’s 14 and 15 year old male friends. According to reports, the alleged molestation took place in Miller’s home at 5813 W. 109th St. between February and June of this year. She now faces three counts of criminal sexual assault and one count of criminal sexual abuse.

The alleged sexual abuse reportedly came to light when one of the boys posted an apology to Miller’s daughter on Facebook. The young teen’s parents reportedly saw the posting and went to the police. Miller has been barred from contact with her 14 year old daughter because the girl allegedly witnessed some of the alleged acts of sexual abuse. Miller’s bail has been set at $900,000.00 by the Circuit Court of Cook County’s 5th District in Bridgeview, IL. Miller had reportedly recently separated from her husband claiming she suffered a long history of physical and emotional abuse. Miller’s sister has taken custody of her children as the Illinois DCFS investigates the sexual abuse allegations.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse you should contact an experienced trial lawyer to protect your rights. The Klest Law Firm offers free consultations to victims of sexual abuse. Attorney Joseph G. Klest helped draft the current statute of limitations contained in the Childhood Sexual Abuse Act (CSAA). To speak with attorney Klest, please click here.

The Chicago high school band teacher is currently serving 20 years in state prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sexual abuse in 2006. The teacher, Robert Sperlik, taught in the Berwyn school district for nearly twenty years. The instances of sexual abuse reportedly occurred between 1998 and 2003 and included 20 separate victims. The underlying instances of sexual abuse include allegations that Sperlik had used duct tape to bind one victim in a chair while he molested her. Another victim was reportedly gagged with a rag in the band classroom. A recent civil lawsuit alleged that the principal knew of allegations against Sperlik but continued to expose him to children. The principal had previously been acquitted of misdemeanor charges for failing to report the abuse.

The circumstances surrounding Sperlik's conviction should serve as a warning to Chicago area institutions to take reports of abuse very seriously. If you or a loved one have been the victim of sexual abuse, you should contact an attorney to investigate your case and protect your rights. The Klest Law Firm has over twenty eight years of experience handling sexual abuse claims in Illinois. To speak with an experienced civil sexual abuse attorney, please click here.

Former NHL star and one-time Chicago Blackhawk winger Theoren Fleury has recently come forward revealing that he was sexually abused by a junior hockey coach as a minor. Fluery, who spent time with the Flames, Avalanche, Rangers and Blackhawks penned an autobiography in late 2009 detailing the sexual abuse that he suffered. The alleged abuser, registered Canadien sex offender Graham James, was previously convicted of molesting fellow former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy in 1997. Canadien news interests reported earlier this month that James received a pardon in 2007 relative to that conviction. A Canadien pardon has the effect of restricting access to a criminal record. As such, information related to James’s criminal conviction would be unavailable to any future potential employers, including junior hockey programs.

Fleury detailed the acts of childhood sexual abuse that he suffered in a 2009 autobiography entitled “Playing with Fire.” In that novel, Fleury described how years of sexual abuse left him depressed and suicidal. Fleury also claimed that the sexual abuse he endured lead to adult problems with alcohol, drugs, and gambling. Fleury is now an advocate for sexual abuse victims after the outpour of support that he received following the release of his book. He sees the recent news break regarding the pardon of James as an opportunity for childhood sexual abuse victims advocates to pressure the Canadien government to change their approach to sexual abuse.

Sexual abuse victims are often empowered through exposure. The story of Theo Fleury as an abuse victim is far too common however his ability to overcome the horrors he suffered and strive to protect future victims is inspiring. If you have been the victim of childhood sexual abuse and would like to speak with an attorney, please click here.

A Chicago area doctor is facing numerous allegations of sexual abuse as several former patients have come forward claiming that they were raped or otherwise abused. The doctor, Bruce Smith, is originally from New York and had completed a stint in the Army and attended the University of Hartford prior to his attending Loyola University in Chicago. He performed his residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital and began working at the South Side’s Kennedy Medical Service Corp. shortly thereafter. Dr. Smith subsequently spent time working at Michael Reese Hospital before launching his own practice called Cameo Women’s Healthcare.

The first sexual abuse allegation against Smith occurred in May of 2000 while Smith was working at Kennedy Medical Service Corp. During that time period one of Smith’s patients, 19 year old Tameka Stokes, claims that she was raped while receiving a pelvic exam. In total seven women came forward alleging either rape or sexual misconduct against Smith before any action was taken by law enforcement or the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Smith’s medical license was suspended in October of 2009 for a minimum period of nine months. The Cook County States Attorneys Office had previously reviewed the rape allegations and declined to press charges. Several of those earlier victims have been recently contacted by detectives.

Illinios law recognizes sexual exploitation in the doctor-patient relationship. If you have been sexually abused by a doctor, you should contact a personal injury attorney to investigate the facts surrounding the abuse. Chicago sexual abuse lawyer Joseph G. Klest has over twenty eight years of experience handling sexual abuse claims in Illinois. To contact the Klest Law Firm please click here.

An Antioch, IL, daycare owner was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse last Friday at a Lake County courthouse. Michael Moskowitz, a 49 year-old resident of 1010 W. Osmond Ave., was taken into custody on allegations that he had sexually abused an 8 year-old family member. Moskowitz had operated a licensed in home day care center in north suburban Antioch since 2006. The center’s license has been suspended by the Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”) as the police are investigating the sexual abuse allegation. The DCFS office has also removed six children that lived with Moskowitz at his Antioch home.

The aggravated criminal sexual assault charges facing Moskowitz are Class 2 felonies carrying up to seven years in prison. His bond has been set at $50,000.00.

Sexual abuse victims can suffer lasting emotional, mental, and physical injuries. An experienced Chicago trial attorney can assist an abuse victim in bringing a claim against his or her abuser. If you have been the victim of sexual abuse or would otherwise like to speak to an attorney, please click here.

A Chicago man was charged yesterday with kidnapping a Hyde Park kindergartner following an incident at 5335 S. Kenwood Ave on the city’s South Side. According to reports, 67 year-old William Bledsoe of the 7600 block of South Honore St. allegedly detained a young boy for several hours last Tuesday. The boy was allegedly detained between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. during the school day according to a Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman. The boy is reportedly a student at Murray Language Academy. He was taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital following the incident.

Police are now investigating whether Bledsoe, an employee of the Jewels Bus Company in the Roseland neighborhood, sexually assaulted the young boy while he was being held against his will. Bledsoe has yet to be charged with sexual assault. The bus was towed and taken as evidence in an ongoing investigation by the Chicago Police Special Investigations Unit. For more information on the incident follow this link.

If the young boy was sexually abused, he may have civil claims against both the bus driver and also the institutions responsible for his employment. The Klest Law Firm has over twenty nine years of experience advocating on behalf of childhood sexual abuse victims in the State of Illinois. If you have any questions regarding sexual abuse victims’ rights or would otherwise like to speak to an attorney, please click here.

A 26 year old Libertyville, IL, therapist from Kids Hope United in Lake Villa, IL, has been charged with criminal sexual assault following allegations of inappropriate contact with a 14 year old patient. Cori Rivelli, of the 1800 block of Milwaukee Ave., is being detained in a Lake County Jail facing a $200,000 bond. Reports indicate that Rivelli allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with a patient at Kids Hope on more than one occasion over the summer. These encounters allegedly occurred at Rivelli’s Libertyville apartment while she was transporting the boy from the Kids Hope residential facility to see his parents in Peoria, IL.

The allegations reportedly surfaced after a staff worker overheard the boy mentioning details of the sexual relationship to another resident. There are also reports that Rivelli had revealed details about the inappropriate behavior to a co-worker. Rivelli has been placed on administrative leave from the facility.

The sexual abuse victim may have claims against both his abuser and the facility where he was staying. Chicago attorney Joesph G. Klest has over twenty nine years of experience handling sexual abuse claims. As a victim’s rights advocate, attorney Joseph G. Klest understands the often sensitive and emotional nature of sexual abuse cases. Additionally, attorney Klest helped co-author the current statute of limitations in childhood sexual abuse cases and has argued the issue in front of the Illinois Supreme Court. If you have any questions, or would like to contact attorney Klest, please click here.

A far north side elementary school principal has been charged with criminal sexual abuse as a result of his inappropriate contact with an 11 year-old student. According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Daniel R. Pirozzi, of the 39000 block of North Green Bay Rd. Apt. #2, in Beach Park, IL, has been charged with one count of criminal sexual abuse – a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. He is the principal at Biblical Baptist Church Academy in Beach Park, IL. The sexual abuse allegations came to light last weekend when members of the girl’s family contacted the Sheriff’s Office. The elementary school girl told investigators that Pirozzi would conduct secret meetings with her in his office and in the church. During these meetings, Pirozzi would allegedly hug and kiss the victim and, on at least one occasion, fondle her breasts.

Pirozzo has been the principal of the academy for the last three years where he oversees children ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade. He has reportedly admitted in a statement to the police that his involvement with the victim had gone too far. Pirozzo remains in Lake County jail facing an Appril13th court date. Police are urging parents of children at the academy to speak with their children regarding any contact with Pirozzo. Parents are asked to call the Criminal Investigations Division at (847) 377-4250 if they believe their child may have been a victim.

Continue reading "Illinois Elementary School Principal Charged with Sexual Abuse" »

An Elgin, IL, pastor has been found guilty on two counts of battery for beating a teenage girl with a piece of crown molding during weekly ‘counseling’ sessions. Rev. Daryl Bujak, formerly of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Elgin, was sentenced to twelve months of supervision, ordered to perform 80 hours of community service, and handed a $350 fine for his conduct. According to reports, Bujak was approached by the parents of the girl in March 2005 when the girl began making allegations of sexual abuse against her stepfather. Neither Bujak nor the girl’s mother believed those allegations to be true. Thereafter the pastor began a series of weekly meetings with the girl in which he would spank her 15 to 25 times depending on how she had behaved the previous week (as reported to the pastor by the girl’s mother). Bujak was found not guilty of violating a state law that requires clergy members to report allegations of sexual abuse. According to reports, Bujak told the girl that he was a former police officer who had dealt with sexual abuse cases before and that he did not have to report the alleged abuse because ‘nothing had really gone on.’ Bujak claims that the parents of the girl had given him permission to incorporate corporal punishment as part of the counseling.

The counseling sessions ceased around October of 2005 when stepfather Matthew Resh of Ingleside, IL , was charged with sexually abusing the girl. Resh is awaiting trial in McHenry County where he faces five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault. According to church treasurer Robert Steele, Bujak resigned in August of 2008 for reasons reportedly unrelated to the battery.

Continue reading "Pastor Found Guilty of Routinely Spanking Teen for Alleging Sexual Abuse" »

Former priest and Loyola University Chicago professor John Powell has been accused of sexual abuse in connection with a religious retreat held in the late sixties. The November lawsuit represents the third sexual abuse allegation levied against Powell since 2003. The suit also names the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) as a defendant claiming that the organization was aware of several sexual abuse allegations against Powell and did nothing. In addition to his work as a professor and priest, Powell is also a best-selling religious author having penned publications such as “Fully Human” and “Fully Alive”.

The recent civil lawsuit, filed by a Jane Doe plaintiff, alleges abuse by Powell during a 1967 religious retreat held in West Palm Beach Florida. The plaintiff claims that Powell held ‘private counseling sessions’ over the course of the retreat during which he forced the plaintiff to kiss him and forced the plaintiff to undress. The lawsuit alleged negligence and fraud against the Jesuits claiming that the abuse suffered by the Jane Doe victim could have been prevented had the Jesuits acted on prior allegations against Powell.

The allegations follow a 2006 lawsuit alleging that Powell sexually abused four other girls during similar counseling sessions. The 2006 lawsuit, which is still pending, claims that both Loyola administrators and Jesuit leaders actively ignored reports regarding Powell’s inappropriate conduct. Reacting to the recent lawsuits, Barbara Blaine of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) cited the Jesuits as the worst in the country in terms of concealing abuse. Powell has never been criminally charged in relation to the civil sexual abuse allegations and is currently in poor health requiring 24-hour care.

Continue reading "Former Chicago Jesuit Priest Faces Third Sexual Abuse Lawsuit" »