Waukegan High coach accused of sexual abuse of student

A Waukegan High School coach faces a felony charge after being accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student, authorities said Monday.

Mark Basa, 34, of the 2900 block of Nemesis Drive in Waukegan, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse stemming from an investigation launched when a school district resource officer was contacted by a Waukegan Unit District 60 administrator and told about a possible relationship between a student and an employee.

An investigation found a relationship occurred between Basa and the juvenile two years ago, officials said.

Basa was arrested Friday and he later posted 10 percent of his $250,000 bail to go free while his case is pending.

Authorities said Basa is employed as an assistant coach for the high school's rifle team. Investigators do not believe he was involved with more than one student, officials said.

School officials said Basa is not a teacher in District 60, but has been a rifle team assistant coach for six years.

Officials said they cooperated with the law enforcement during the investigation.

"During the police investigation, the employee was removed from coaching, and was prohibited from having contact with team members," officials said in a prepared statement on the District 60 website. "The coach does not work as a full-time employee in the district. He has been placed on leave while these allegations are further investigated, and is prohibited from having contact with his team or team members."

Basa, who would face a maximum of three to seven years in prison if convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, is scheduled to appear in Lake County court March 8.