Police arrest 17-year-old for abuse

A Wauconda teenager working at a church day school is accused of sexually assaulting two young girls.

Zachary Carlson, 17, was arrested Friday after police said he abused the children -- ages 7 and 8 -- four times during the summer.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred while Carlson worked as a counselor at a day school for the Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wauconda.

Carlson, a Wauconda High School senior, faces two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 60 years in prison.

The Lake County sheriff's office says investigators believe there may be other victims. Anyone with more information is urged to call Det. Wendell Russell at (847) 377-4156.