Chicago-area imam pleads guilty to sex abuse charges

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. (AP) - A prominent Islamic scholar and longtime head of a suburban Chicago school accused of molesting an underage girl and a 23-year-old female school employee has pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Mohammed Abdullah Saleem was sentenced Thursday to two years of probation and must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He was also barred from being in the presence of any female of any age, except relatives, without the presence of another adult female.

The 77-year-old Saleem founded the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin. Cook County Circuit Judge James Karahalios ruled he can't be within 500 feet of that or any other school.

Saleem was accused of repeatedly fondling the young woman who worked for him, as well as a student who was a minor.