Wauconda school board member may be heading to jail

A Wauconda school board member is in danger of going to jail after prosecutors moved Wednesday to revoke his probation.

Nicholas Batson, 46, is currently on probation for misdemeanor domestic battery and has a six-month stayed jail sentence included in its terms.

Batson, elected to the Wauconda Unit District 118 school board in 2005, was charged in December with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Police said he molested a 14-year-old female relative in his home Dec. 5. Batson faced up to seven years in prison.

However, Assistant State's Attorney Ken LaRue allowed Batson to plead guilty to the lesser charge in July because there was no DNA or other physical evidence supporting the original charge.

But LaRue said Wednesday Batson attended an Aug. 30 party where the victim and her father were present, and that is a violation of a judge's order that he have no contact with her or her family.

There is no evidence he had any contact with the girl, LaRue said, but her father took several pictures of Batson at the party.

Batson entered a denial of the allegation and the matter was put over to Oct. 15 for a hearing.

If Batson is found in violation of his probation, LaRue said he could be ordered to serve the six-month jail sentence or could face other sanctions.