More charges in deputy coroner case

Additional charges were filed Tuesday against a Lake County deputy coroner accused of molesting a child.

Assistant State’s Attorney Patricia Fix said Robert Barrett, 42, is charged with four counts of criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Fix said Barrett, who is the county’s longest-serving deputy coroner, was placed on unpaid administrative leave after his arrest Monday.

He was originally charged with molesting a 14-year-old girl in his Lindenhurst home.

Fix said all the charges against Barrett involve the same victim and are based on conduct that apparently goes back several years.

Police were originally called Sunday night when a witness found Barrett in an inappropriate situation with the girl.

Fix said Barrett is being held for psychiatric observation at a Waukegan hospital and it is unknown when he will be taken into custody on the new charges.

A court date has not been set, Fix said, but Barrett could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted in the case.