Charges dropped for jail guard accused of inappropriately touching female employee
Lake County prosecutors on Monday dismissed battery allegations against a county correctional officer previously accused of inappropriately touching the buttocks of a female employee at the jail.
Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Michael Ori said there was "insufficient evidence that a crime was committed" in explaining the decision to drop the misdemeanor charge against Darin Chansky. Ori declined further comment.
Chansky, 49, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was charged in February with unlawfully touching an Aramark food service employee who was contracted to work inside the jail.
He was placed on administrative leave with pay after the allegations surfaced in January, authorities said. Prior to the charge's dismissal, Chansky was facing up to a year in jail if convicted.
Chansky did not comment after court Monday, but defense attorney Elliot Pinsel said his client was "happy to have this chapter of his life over."
A 22-year veteran of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Chansky turned himself in to authorities after charges were filed Feb. 26 and later was released on bond.
Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran was quoted in a news release in February stating that officials interviewed Chansky, the female worker, inmates and witnesses prior to filing charges. The woman also told authorities that Chansky made an inappropriate sexual gesture toward her in the presence of others in December.
Curran said he did not disagree with the findings of the state's attorney's office or the decision to dismiss the criminal charge, but said a separate employee administrative review is ongoing.
"He will remain on administrative leave for the time being, and we will try and resolve the internal process," Curran said. "Hopefully, we'll have a decision about that by the end of the week."