Ex-Sandburg teacher guilty of molesting student
A former substitute teacher at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park pleaded guilty Monday to sexually abusing a 17-year-old student.
Steven E. Reynolds, 27, of Hinsdale, was sentenced to 30 months of probation, 15 days in jail with work release and 200 hours of community service. He also must register as a sex offender for 10 years and have no contact with the victim, according to a plea agreement.
Reynolds was a basketball coach and substitute teacher at Sandburg when he invited the female victim to spend a night at his home in January while his wife was away, prosecutors said. In court Monday, he admitted molesting the victim before he took her home the following day.
Prosecutors said the victim reported the encounter to friends, who alerted school officials. Reynolds confessed when questioned by investigators from the DuPage County Children's Center, Assistant State's Attorney Ann Celine O'Hallaren said in court.
“He knew she was unable to consent to any sexual contact with him, given her age,” O'Hallaren said.
Reynolds could have been sentenced to up to three years in prison if convicted of criminal sexual abuse at trial. His plea agreement was reached in consultation with the victim and the victim's family, prosecutors said.
Judge George Bakalis said he believed Reynolds was unlikely to re-offend, based on his pre-sentence evaluation.
The former teacher is scheduled to surrender for jail on Sept. 3. His community service will be performed at an Orland Park church, defense attorney Joe Laraia said.