Waukegan H.S. teacher charged in sexual assault

A Waukegan High School teacher has been charged with criminal sexual assault after an investigation found he had a sexual relationship with a former student, Waukegan police said Friday in a news release.

Officials from Waukegan Unit District 60 notified police of their discovery of a possible sexual relationship between physical education teacher and former coach Brandon M. Brown, 30, of the 3000 block of Kathe Lane in Waukegan, and a 17-year-old female student, who has since graduated.

The school district heard about the relationship while investigating another student’s claim that Brown made her feel uncomfortable, according to a news release from the district.

Police interviews with the victim and Brown, who teaches at the Brookside Campus, proved the allegations to be true, authorities said.

According to police, Brown and the student engaged in sexual conduct at Brown’s residence on one occasion in fall 2010.

Brown admitted to the relationship in a voluntary statement given to investigators, police said.

“Mr. Brown violated a sacred trust between parents, children, and their schools,” Waukegan Police Chief Daniel Greathouse said in a statement. “Thankfully, Illinois law allows for enhanced felony classification of the charges for those like Mr. Brown who are in a position of trust and chooses to prey on our children in such a despicable manner.”

According to the district, it is not known if any other students were involved.

“We are demonstrating through our swift and deliberate actions that we will not tolerate any sort of employee conduct that violates the trust or safety of our students, parents, or this community,” District 60 Superintendent Donaldo Batiste said in a statement.

Brown, has worked for District 60 for eight years, was suspended from teaching Monday pending the outcome of the case, according to police. District 60 spokesman Nicholas Alajakis declined to say if Brown is off the job with or without pay, citing it as a private personnel matter.

A Lake County judge Wednesday set Brown’s bail at $50,000.

He is the second Brookside Campus employee charged with having sex with a student in the last two months.

Timothy Kinsey, 44, of the 1600 block of 11th Street in Waukegan, was charged Oct. 10 with having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Kinsey served for two years as a safety officer on the campus.