Vernon Hills police employee charged with sex crimes

A Vernon Hills Police Department employee has been charged with attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse after soliciting a 7-year-old girl to perform a sexual act in McHenry, according to a criminal complaint.

Steven J. Hubbard is being held at the McHenry County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail after being arrested Aug. 3, according to court records.

Hubbard was also charged with solicitation of a child.

According to the criminal complaint, Hubbard tried to inappropriately touch the 7-year-old girl and solicited her to perform a sexual act.

He has been employed as a “civilian employee” working as a telecommunicator for the police department since 2004, according to a Vernon Hills Police Department statement. Hubbard has been placed on administrative leave without pay pending an internal investigation, according to the statement.

The McHenry Police Department refused to comment on the case, due to the ongoing investigation.

“It's just not a closed-out case. It's an open investigation,” said McHenry police Detective Sgt. John Birk. “There's no threat to the public at this point.”

Birk said he expects it will be between six and eight weeks until the case is closed and further information is available.

The Vernon Hills Police Department will be monitoring the court proceedings and the criminal investigation, according to its statement.

Hubbard is due in court at 9 a.m. Friday.