States Attorney.

North Suburban Chicago Teacher’s Aide Faces Charges for Sexual Assault of Student

Press Release Teacher's Aide Charged In Sexual Assault Of Student

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced the charges filed against a north suburban Chicago man who worked as a teacher’s aide at a Northbrook school for students with special needs, following the sexual assault of a student with mental disability in the school.

Donald Arocho, 37, is a teacher’s aide in a Northbrook school for students with special needs in Chicago’s north suburban. The defendant was charged with one count of Criminal Sexual Assault after committing an act of sexual penetration with a victim, who is profoundly intellectually disabled, and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse for committing an act of sexual conduct with a victim who is profoundly intellectually disabled.

Prosecutors reported that on August 26, 2013, the defendant was assigned to be the victim’s aide and had accompanied the student who is deaf and profoundly intellectually disabled to the bathroom. After which, it was reported that the defendant escorted the student into the school’s gymnasium where the defendant pulled down the student’s pants and underwear and “put his penis into the mouth and the anus” of the 17-year-old student. Under the given circumstance, the victim was unable to understand or give consent to the defendant’s sexual acts. The student informed her parents of the occurrence and was subsequently taken to a local hospital for a rape kit examination to be performed on the victim.

The 17-year-old victim has a hearing impairment, developmental delays, and behavioral issues. The victim was previously a student at District 118 but was recommended by the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL) to attend the school for children with disabilities in Northbrook in order to be provided with more qualified assistance. Authorities declined to disclose the school’s name where the victim was enrolled in, and where the alleged assault took place.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Chambers set the bond for the defendant, Donald Arocho, at $300,000 bail on March 21, 2014, at the Second Municipal District Skokie Courthouse. The defendant is set to appear in his next court date on March 31, 2014, at 1:30 pm, in Room 105 at the Skokie Courthouse.

With the provided criminal documents containing allegations that are not evidence of guilt, the public is reminded that the defendant shall be presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the state has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Updated: September 8, 2020

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