Elgin woman accused of allowing child sexual abuse

A 32-year-old Elgin woman has been charged with permitting the sexual abuse of a child, according to Kane County court records. Amanda J. Alder, of the 100 block of North Jackson Street, was released on her own recognizance Friday.

Alder faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the felony charge, though probation is an option. Her next court date is Oct. 17.

According to court records, the abuse took place from Jan. 1 through Aug. 26. The charging documents did not state Alder’s relationship to the child nor who is accused of abuse.

According to Illinois statutes, a person responsible for the welfare of a child younger than 17 commits the offense of permitting sexual abuse of a child if the person has actual knowledge of abuse, including credible allegations made by the child, and permits an act of sexual abuse upon the child or permits the child to engage in prostitution.

Deb Bree, executive director of the Kane County Child Advocacy Center, which investigates crimes against children, declined to comment on the case.

Alder’s defense attorney, Glenn Jazwiec, could not be reached for comment.

Alder was arrested in June 2009 by Elgin police and charged with carrying a .22-caliber “pen gun” pistol within 1,000 feet of a school in November 2008. She also was charged with possessing the weapon without a Firearm Owner’s Identification card and delivering it to a person before a 72-hour waiting period was over, records show.

Alder pleaded guilty in July 2009, was fined $1,350, given two years of probation and sentenced to 30 days in jail, records show. In summer 2010, prosecutors argued she violated her probation through a May 2010 shoplifting arrest in Algonquin. She admitted the violation and was given 30 days of electronic home monitoring and fined $300.