More charges against former YMCA swim instructor

A swim instructor from Inverness was arraigned Wednesday on new charges of inappropriate contact with three young girls, bringing the number of alleged victims to five.

If convicted on all charges, Kevin Skowron, 22, would face mandatory life in prison, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Karen Carothers said. Bond was set at $1.1 million on Wednesday, Carothers said.

No further charges are expected, she said.

The new charges involve girls ages 4 to 9 from Palatine and Algonquin who were taking swimming classes at Buehler YMCA in Palatine, where Skowron taught. The separate incidents were in September, October and November 2008, Carothers said.

Skowron was arrested in late November after police were summoned when the father of one of the alleged victims came to the YMCA and struck him. The initial charges involved two young girls. In all, Skowron is charged with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Skowron's attorney could not be reached for comment.

A civil lawsuit also is underway accusing Buehler YMCA of continuing to employ Skowron after initial accusations came to light. That complaint claims a child was molested Nov. 22, weeks after the first allegations surfaced. YMCA officials previously stated that they notified authorities immediately after the initial allegation, but reinstated Skowron when that alleged victim was not able to identify the assailant.

Skowron's next court date is March 5 in Rolling Meadows.