McHenry Co. jail guard denies misconduct with female inmates

A suspended McHenry County correctional officer formally pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of sexual misconduct involving four female inmates at the county jail.

Elias Dario Fortoso, 29, asked for a jury trial on the accusations, which include four new felony charges alleging inappropriate activity with two women not included when the claims against him first were made public late last month.

A grand jury last week indicted Fortoso, of the 700 block of Dean Street in South Elgin, on four counts of custodial sexual misconduct and two counts of official misconduct stemming from six separate incidents between Feb. 1 and July 9. All are Class 3 felonies punishable by a maximum two to five years in prison.

His attorney, David Namic, said Fortoso plans "a very aggressive defense" to the allegations.

Fortoso was arrested July 27 after a two-week investigation begun when a female inmate reported allegations to a staffer in the McHenry County Public Defender's office.

He has been placed on paid administrative pending an internal investigation into the claims. Sheriff Keith Nygren said he expects the investigation to wrap up soon and he will then make a decision on Fortoso's future in the sheriff's department. At the time of his arrest, Fortoso had worked in the jail for more than two years and had no prior disciplinary record.

Fortoso, who is free on a $2,000 bond, is scheduled to return to court Oct. 6 for a pretrial status hearing.