A former employee who worked for Woodstock Community School District 200 has been arrested and accused of sexually abusing five children in McHenry County.
James M. Birr, 60, of Woodstock, was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual assault of a child and nine counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
A criminal complaint alleges Birr committed numerous acts of sexual assault on children from 1991 to 2001 in McHenry County.
The complaint said some of the children were under the age of 13 when the acts were committed.
At least one of the counts said the victim was a family member of Birr.
The complaint said there were at least five child victims who were sexually abused or assaulted by Birr.
The Woodstock Police Department investigated the case and arrested Birr on Friday.
Public records show Birr was employed with the Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 for at least seven years.
McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Garrett Miller said Birr was in a position of trust and authority with minors, including being a baseball umpire, Scoutmaster and coach, volunteer and as a stepfather, the Northwest Herald reported.
Miller said an investigation is ongoing to determine if there are more victims as Birr also worked as a bus driver for District 200.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office sought to have Birr detained pending trial but McHenry County Judge Joel Berg denied the petition.
Birr was released from the McHenry County Jail and ordered not to go to daycares, parks, amusement parks, malls, museums, fast food restaurant and stay at least 1000 feet away from any park or school.
Birr was placed on pre-trial supervision with GPS monitoring and ordered not to communicate with any child.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 21 for a status of preliminary hearing.