Most charges against accused molester stand, next move unclear

A Lake County judge ruled Thursday there is enough evidence to support most of the child molesting charges against Paul Olsson of Kildeer.

Associate Judge Christopher Stride said a case exists for holding Olsson, 22, on charges he molested two boys at the Lincolnshire Tennis Club during 2004 and 2005.

However, the question of whether Olsson should be returned to a state mental health treatment center was set aside when his defense attorney filed a motion to block the move. Olsson has been found mentally unfit to stand trial three times.

Stride's decision came at the end of a discharge hearing for Olsson that could result in him being sent to treatment for up to one year, civilly committed for treatment for an indefinite period or released from custody.

Assistant State's Attorney Ari Fisz advocated for the one-year treatment program, but Assistant Public Defender Keith Grant argued that option is no longer open to Stride.

Grant, who objected to the entire discharge hearing procedure because Olsson would not participate in his own defense, said the legal time limit for sending Olsson to treatment for up to one year has lapsed.

In the more than four years the case has been pending, Olsson has repeatedly refuse to cooperate with his court-appointed lawyers, but has never been able to hire a private attorney to defend him.

The only options open to Stride at this point in the case, according to Grant's motion, are to find Olsson fit and schedule a trial, or to declare him a danger to the community and commit him for treatment for up to 30 years.

Fisz said he believes Stride still has the one-year of treatment option, but was unable to argue against Grant's motion without further research.

Stride ordered all parties to the case to return to his courtroom Dec. 17 for arguments on Grant's motion.

Also on Thursday, Fisz dismissed charges against Olsson involving two other boys under the ages of 13 because their parents did not want them to go through the trauma of testifying in court.

Olsson now faces charges of predatory sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving two boys - a 6-year-old and a 10-year-old - who claim Olsson molested them while acting as their tennis coach.