Mount Prospect agency employee charged with sexual assault of teen

An employee for a Mount Prospect social service agency was ordered held on $225,000 bond Monday on charges he sexually assaulted a teenage volunteer on March 6.

Ricky Fecht, 56, of the 700 block of West Dempster Street in unincorporated Cook County, worked as a program specialist for Northwest Compass, a nonprofit agency that provides housing and child-care assistance, job training and food through its food pantry.

Prosecutors say Fecht was in a “a position of trust and authority” when he met the 16-year-old accuser at a January orientation and invited her to volunteer, which she and a friend did beginning in February, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Gbenga Longe.

On March 6, Fecht told the girl she was sexy, which her friend and fellow volunteer overheard, Longe said. Fecht is accused of kissing, touching and assaulting the girl after the friend left, Longe said. He then apologized saying, “this is dangerous,” Longe said.

On March 10, the girl told another friend what happened and the friend's parents called police, Longe said.

Fecht has been charged with criminal sexual assault, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He has been suspended without pay, said Ron Jordan, CEO of Northwest Compass. “We place the highest priority on the safety of our employees, clients, volunteers and student interns,” Jordan said. “We had no knowledge of the allegations and are cooperating with police during the ongoing investigation.”

In 1988, Fecht pleaded guilty to criminal sexual abuse and was sentenced to one year of probation. In that case, the victim was a 13-year-old baby sitter, Longe said. In 2012, Fecht pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge. In that case, Fecht made lewd comments to a group of girls ages 13 to 16, Longe said. When Fecht tried to touch them, a witness intervened and police were notified, Longe said.

Fecht's criminal background includes eight misdemeanor convictions, Longe said. Among them are retail theft and criminal damage to property convictions from 2014; possession of drug paraphernalia from 2008, domestic battery from 2005 and resisting arrest from 1990.

Cook County Judge Joseph Cataldo ordered Fecht have no contact with the 16-year-old accuser or anyone under age 18. He next appears in court on April 7.