A former employee of a swim school in Lake in the Hills has been found guilty of repeatedly inappropriately touching a female teenager who was a co-worker of his.
Daniel Flores, 24, of Cary, was charged in February 2022 with four counts of aggravated battery in a public place, unlawful restraint and four counts of battery.
The Lake in the Hills Police Department was notified by the Bear Paddle Swim School, located at 307 North Randall Road, on October 18, 2021, about an incident involving two of their employees.
Prosecutors said the swim school became aware of inappropriate touching by Flores against another employee.
Detectives interviewed the victim, who was 18 at the time, and learned that she had been assigned to shadow Flores as part of her training to become a swim instructor.
Flores touched her multiple times in the pool and in the men’s and women’s restrooms, prosecutors said.
Two other employees witnessed the incidents involving Flores and the victim.
One employee observed the touching occur in the restroom, prosecutors said.
A grand jury indictment said Flores held the woman against a sink with his hands and placed his hands on her neck on September 30, 2021.
The indictment said Flores unlawfully restrained the victim by bending her over a sink in the restroom.
He also grabbed her buttocks and slapped her buttocks on the same day, the indictment said.
A two-day bench trial was held beginning on August 14 and concluding on September 5 in front of McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt.
Last week, Gerhardt announced his decision in the case. He found Flores guilty of all nine charges.
“McHenry County will remain a safe place for people to work without fear of harassment,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said following the verdict.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 22.