Gurnee cop arrested, charged with sex crimes

A celebrated Gurnee police officer was arrested Friday and charged with molesting two children and threatening a man with a gun.

Officer Jay Simon, who has been with the department nearly six years, was ordered held on $1.5 million bond after a court appearance Friday, Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Patricia Fix said.

Simon, 35, of Round Lake Park, was charged in a warrant with two felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, one felony count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and a misdemeanor count of aggravated assault.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center, a division of the state's attorney's office.

If convicted of all charges, Simon faces, at most, a little more than 67 years in prison.

Simon is accused of molesting two girls under the age of 13 in three separate attacks dating to November 2006, authorities said.

Additionally, in March 2007, Simon pointed a handgun at a man from Zion and threatened him, Fix said.

Simon was arrested at the Gurnee police department about 12:30 p.m. Friday. He'd been on administrative leave since mid-May, when the department was notified of the investigation, police spokesman Cmdr. Jay Patrick said.

"We called him into the station," Patrick said. "I don't believe he had any indication he'd be arrested."

Simon's employment status will be re-evaluated because of the arrest, Patrick said.

Torrie Newsome, a Waukegan attorney defending Simon, urged the public to keep an open mind.

"Officer Simon is a dedicated individual who served the people of Gurnee well," Newsome said. "Let's not rush to judgment."

Associate Judge Daniel Shanes scheduled a bond review for June 12.

Simon has received many public kudos for his ability to bust drunken drivers. Most recently, he was commended at a May 19 Gurnee village board meeting for making 47 DUI arrests in 2007.

In 2006, Simon received an award from Mothers Against Drunken Driving, and was honored during a ceremony before a White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field.

The previous year, Simon received an Illinois Top Cop award that recognized his DUI enforcement efforts.

Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik called Simon a valuable police officer who was proud of his job.

"You just don't know what demons people have in their personal lives," Kovarik said.

In a news release, Gurnee Police Chief Robert D. Jones said the department cooperated with investigators. He declined to comment on the charges.