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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MICHAEL G. NERHEIM
STATE'S ATTORNEY
December 17, 2019
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lee Filas
(847) 377-3141 – office
(847) 707-6479 – cell
lfilas@lakecountyil.gov
SEDOL paraprofessional charged with sexual assault of physically and intellectually disabled person
(Lake County, IL) Lake County State's Attorney Michael G. Nerheim announced a former paraprofessional employed by the Special Education District of Lake County has been charged with sexually assaulting and abusing a physically and intellectually disabled person while he was employed with SEDOL.
Israel Suaste-Gonzalez, 49, of the 19000 block of Cambridge Road in unincorporated Lake County near Mundelein, was ordered held on $2 million bail following his appearance in Lake County bond court early Tuesday morning.
Should Suaste-Gonzalez be able to post the required 10 percent of the bail imposed by Associate Judge Paul Novak, he is ordered to have no contact with the victim, no contact with any children under the age of 18, and no contact with SEDOL. He is also ordered to avoid all places where children may be located like a school, park or day care, and is not allowed to have any contact with work sites where students from SEDOL may be placed. He is also to remain on 24-hour curfew and not consume any drugs of alcohol, should he be able to post bond.
"Adults who sexually assault or abuse people with intellectual or physical disabilities and children are among the absolute worst offenders we see through our office," State's Attorney Nerheim said. "Our hearts go out to the victim and the family. We applaud her courage in coming forward."
During Suaste-Gonzalez's bond court appearance, Assistance States Attorney Russell Caskey said the offender was employed at SEDOL's Atkinson location from 2016 through 2018 as a paraprofessional while the victim was enrolled at the facility. The victim referred to Suaste-Gonzalez as her "teacher" during that time. The victim claimed Suaste-Gonzalez sexually molested her multiple times at the school during his two years working with her at that location, and added she felt like she was required to be involved because her "teacher" kept telling her to do so.
Caskey said during the bond hearing that Suaste-Gonzalez denied the allegations when first interviewed by police, but later admitted to sexually abusing the student on at least five occassions. Caskey added the victim said Suaste-Gonzalez told her to not tell anyone.
Suaste-Gonzalez has officially been charged with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, a class X felony. In addition, he is charged with four counts criminal sexual assault, a class one felony, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a class 2 felony.
"The Grayslake Police Department did an outstanding job with this investigation. This case is another example of the great working relationship our Lake County Children's Advocacy Center has with our law enforcement partners," State's Attorney Nerheim said.
The Lake County State's Attorney's Office reminds the public and media that all offenders are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Lake County State's Attorney's Office 18 N. County Street Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: (847) 377-3000
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