IDOT employee charged with molesting co-worker

An Illinois Department of Transportation employee charged with molesting a co-worker had his bond set at $50,000 Tuesday in Rolling Meadows.

Edgardo Sobenes, 53, of Rolling Meadows has worked for IDOT for 13 years. He is currently on paid administrative leave pending the resolution of this case, said spokesman Mike Claffey.

Sobenes and his accuser worked together at the Schaumburg facility and were in a conference room around noon on Feb. 28 when Sobenes began rubbing the woman’s shoulders, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Catherine Levine.

He then proceeded to touch the woman, Levine said. She told him to stop, but he pushed her down into the chair and later refused to let her leave the room, Levine said.

The woman did leave and reported the incident to a co-worker and a supervisor.

“IDOT has a zero-tolerance policy toward violence in the workplace and takes these charges very seriously,” said Claffey, adding that the agency immediately reportedly the allegations to the Illinois State Police.

“Now that formal criminal charges have been filed, we are moving as expeditiously as possible to place him on unpaid leave pending the resolution of the case,” Claffey said.

Sobenes next appears in court on May 2.