A judge denied pre-trial release to a Gages Lake school employee accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student as prosecutors say a second child has come forward saying he was sexually abused by her at school.
Sandra J. Pardo, 38, of Grayslake, was initially charged last week with three counts of aggravated battery, solicitation to meet a child and child endangerment.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has since filed additional charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, a Class 2 felony.
Pardo appeared for a detention hearing on Thursday where Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Walker detailed the allegations against her.
Pardo was a paraprofessional employed at Cyd Lash Academy in Gages Lake.
Cyd Lash Academy, which is part of the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL), provides an alternative middle school and high school setting to meet the “unique academic, emotional and social needs” of certain students.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded on February 3 to the school after receiving a report of Pardo engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student at the school, who is under 16.
Walker said a video was circulating showing the boy, who does not have a driver’s license, driving a car with Pardo in the vehicle.
The school began investigating and Pardo immediately quit her job.
The child was interviewed at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center and reported that Pardo would talk to him and his friends and try to groom them.
Walker said Pardo asked for the child’s phone number and Snapchat username before engaging in extensive texting with the child beginning last month.
The child said Pardo wanted to use Snapchat because the messages are deleted immediately.
Pardo picked up the boy at Gurnee Mills mall on January 29 and allowed him to drive her car around the parking lot and on public roads back to his home, Walker said.
The child took a video of himself driving and the video then began circulating around the school.
Walker said Pardo rubbed the child’s back, tried to kiss him and asked him if he had sex before, which caused the child to feel uncomfortable.
Pardo asked to meet the child again on February 1 and picked him up while letting him drive her car back to her house, Walker said.
Walker said Pardo asked the child to come into her home but he refused. The boy also told investigators that Pardo kissed him on the lips while in an elevator at their school last month.
Pardo made comments to the child that she always had a “thing” for him since meeting him and wanted to have sex with him, Walker said.
Detectives interviewed Pardo who admitted to kissing the child on the lips and letting him drive her car.
Text conversations were found on Pardo’s phone, which showed she initiated the conversations, Walker said.
Pardo was arrested on February 5 and on Monday, the sheriff’s office was notified about a second juvenile victim.
The child was interviewed at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center and he reported Pardo began talking to him in December and asked for his phone and Snapchat information.
Walker said the boy, who is also a student at Cyd Lash Academy, told investigators that the conversations were sexual in nature with Pardo explaining how she wanted to sleep with him.
Shortly before winter break, the boy and Pardo went to an empty classroom at the school where Pardo performed a sex act on the child, Walker said.
Pardo made numerous statements to detectives that she was ready to go back to Mexico and also reportedly told other staff at the school she was going back to Mexico.
Walker said Pardo’s statements indicate she is a willful flight risk and that she poses a danger to children.
Lake County Judge Ari Fisz granted a petition to detain Pardo pending trial after agreeing with prosecutors during the Thursday detention hearing.
Fisz said the detailed allegations involving the two separate children were “very disturbing.”
“Children have the absolute right to be safe in the school environment and outside of school. The behavior of this paraprofessional is unconscionable and despicable,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said following Pardo’s arrest.
“There is no doubt this behavior is condemned by the thousands of hard-working teachers and school staff from across the county. Our staff will continue our zero-tolerance policy for adults who victimize our most vulnerable,” Idleburg said.
Pardo is scheduled to appear in court again on March 4 for a preliminary hearing.