Private music tutor accused of sexual abuse in Lake Forest

A private music tutor has been charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old student, Lake Forest police said Friday.

According to police, a Lake Forest police officer on patrol the evening of Feb. 29, observed Patrick R. Jennings, 32, of Chicago, inside a parked car alone with a music student. The officer witnessed Jennings engaged in inappropriate physical conduct with the minor, according to police.

Police said detectives interviewed Jennings, the student and several witnesses and obtained and analyzed data from two smartphones and a tablet belonging to Jennings. Police said an arrest warrant for Jennings on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse was obtained Wednesday and he surrendered Friday at the station.

Police declined to reveal the sex of the minor, but said all 10 counts are related to the same individual. There are no other victims currently, Deputy Chief Karl Walldorf said. Police are interviewing other known students, he added.

Police said bail was set at $500,000 with a court date of March 22.

Walldorf said the delay between the initial observation and Jennings turning himself in was due to investigative activity. The suspect was interviewed that night, the victim at a later date, other students as they were identified and time was needed to review the digital evidence.

Detectives also had to review the case with the Lake County state's attorney's office and then review the warrant with a judge, he said.