A teacher’s assistant at an elementary school in Waukegan has been arrested after prosecutors say he sexually assaulted a young female child relative over the span of two years.
Joshua R. Sanchez, 30, of Waukegan, was charged with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a Class X felony, and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, a Class 2 felony.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kailey Hopkins said a child, who is under 10 years old, came forward to report she had been sexually assaulted by Sanchez.
The girl said the abuse began when she was five years old and continued until she was approximately seven years old, Hopkins said.
She told investigators that Sanchez made her touch his sex organ over and under his clothes, and also kissed her.
The victim said Sanchez also touched her private area, Hopkin said.
The girl disclosed the information because she was scared and worried that Sanchez would hurt someone else, Hopkins said.
Hopkins said Sanchez lives with his parents and has access to other minors as well, who also go to the home.
The grandparents were home at the time the abuse occurred, Hopkins said, arguing they cannot mitigate the danger Sanchez poses should he be released.
Prosecutors said Sanchez has “flown under the radar” until the “brave” child decided to report the abuse she suffered.
“This abuse lasted years and we owe it to the community and to this child to keep them safe by keeping this defendant detained,” Hopkins said.
Prosecutors said Sanchez lives two blocks from North Elementary School and three blocks away from Powell Park, while also working as a teacher’s assistant at a school in Waukegan.
A relative of the victim told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that Sanchez and the girl are relatives and he works at Clearview Elementary School.
The relative also told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the girl used her school’s anonymous site to inquire about her abuse, as she did not realize exactly what was happening to her due to her young age, leading to the allegations being brought to light.
Clearview Elementary School Principal Jose Salazar sent a letter to families following the arrest, saying that there was no indication that the situation was connected in any way to Sanchez’s role at the school or the school district.
“The staff member has been placed on leave and will not be present in our schools while this matter is under investigation. We understand this news may be concerning. The safety and well-being of our students remains our highest priority,” Salazar said.
A spokesperson for Waukegan Public Schools District 60 did not respond to a request for comment from Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Sanchez pending trial after his arrest on Thursday.
A detention hearing was held on Friday afternoon and Lake County Judge Ari Fisz denied the request to hold Sanchez in the Lake County Jail.
Fisz released Sanchez on pre-trial conditions, including Level 4 pre-trial services monitoring with no contact with the victim or any child.
Sanchez was also placed on a curfew and ordered not to possess any firearms and not to leave the state without court permission.
The judge said he did not find that prosecutors met their burden to show by clear and convincing evidence that Sanchez committed the offenses.
Attorney Geoffrey Wexler, who is representing Sanchez, said in court that the allegations are “pretty vague” with no exact timeframes or locations.
Prosecutors rebuked that statement and said that the allegations were very detailed.
Wexler, while arguing for his client’s pre-trial release, said that while the allegations “are bad… they could be worse.” Sanchez worked as a teacher’s aide with special needs students, Wexler said, adding that his client has no criminal background.
Sanchez is scheduled to appear in court again on April 21 for a preliminary hearing.