Streamwood teacher accused of having sex with ex-pupil, 15

A Streamwood middle-school teacher who has coached several girls high school sports teams is accused of starting a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old former student, authorities said.

Robert Hope Jr., of the 500 block of Pembrook Court in Crystal Lake, was arrested by Streamwood police on Thursday. He was ordered held on $75,000 bond Saturday.

He faces one count of criminal sexual abuse and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney James Pontrelli said during the bond hearing.

Hope, 36, is a teacher at Canton Middle School and coach of the girls freshman basketball team at Streamwood High School. He taught the girl in 7th grade and coached her in basketball during 8th grade, Pontrelli told Cook County Judge Daniel Sullivan. Hope began the sexual relationship with the girl in February, 2008 when she was 15, Pontrelli said.

Hope was named head coach of the girls varsity softball team at Elgin High School in 2002 after serving as the freshman girls softball coach there. At that time he was a wood shop teacher at Abbott Middle School in Elgin. He is a 1991 Elgin High graduate and a 1999 graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology.

He was placed on paid leave by Elgin Area School District U-46 on Thursday when police made school officials aware of the allegations, District spokesman Tony Sanders said.

Authorities say they learned of the relationship after Hope, who told police he is in love with the student, got her pregnant and gave her $2,000 to have an abortion.

The girl then told her mother, who called police, Pontrelli told the judge.

Hope has two young children and no criminal record, said his attorney Daniel Hofmann, who asked Sullivan to set a $50,000 bond so Hope could be released after posting the $5,000 he had available.

"My understanding was that he was cooperative with police," Hofmann noted.

"He held a position of trust; we're asking for a high bond," responded Pontrelli.

"Pretty serious charge," remarked Sullivan, before setting bond at $75,000.

Asked by the judge if Hope was still a coach, Hofmann noted "That's stopped; it's over." Hofmann declined comment after the hearing.

If he is able to make bond, Hope has been ordered not to have any contact with any children other than his own.