By Nicholas P. Alajakis
News-Sun
December 12, 2007
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/692185,5_1_WA12_SEXARREST_S1.article
A Wauconda School Board member who works as a child physical therapist and served a long stint as a youth group supervisor has been charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.
Nicholas S. Batson, 45, of 25753 W. Ivanhoe Road in Wauconda Township was arrested by Lake County sheriff's deputies Monday after the girl came forward with accusations of abuse. The girl is an acquaintance of Batson's family.
The young girl told classmates and staff at school that she had been abused by Batson over the course of a few years, said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran. Investigators later learned that inappropriate touching occurred in several incidents, including when the two playfully wrestled. There was never any sexual contact between the two, Curran added.
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According to reports, the sheriff's office learned of the assaults Dec. 5 and had been investigating the claims until Monday, when Batson was picked up at his home.
Batson has been a member of the Wauconda Unit School District 118 School Board since 2005. He runs a child physical therapy business out of his home. The business primarily caters to kids with special needs.
In announcing the arrest, Curran said there is concern that Batson may have abused other kids at his business.
"Given the fact that Mr. Batson is employed as a child physical therapist, we are concerned the possibility exists that other victims may be out there," Curran said. "I think it's problematic because those are some of the most vulnerable members of our society."
Batson's accuser is not a special needs child, Curran said.
According to the LCSO, there is no indication that he abused any children through his position on the school board. In statement Tuesday, Wauconda superintendent Daniel Coles said school officials "were shocked" to hear of the abuse allegations.
School board president John Armstrong said the board will not discuss Batson's arrest until the Dec. 20 school board meeting.
Armstrong had positive things to say about his peer; praising him for his work with special education.
"I have no inclination that this was coming. (I had) no kind of feeling that these kind of accusations would be out there," Armstrong said.
From 1997 to 2006 Batson was the director of youth services at Federated Church of Wauconda. A church representative said Tuesday that he has not heard anything about abuse allegations at the church. Curran said the Sheriff's Office has not been in contact with the church, but will investigate any accusations that arise.
Batson has officially been charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse; a Class 2 felony. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison on each count. He's currently being held in the Lake County Jail on $100,000 bond. He has a Jan. 8 court date.
The sheriff's office is asking parents who suspect abuse to contact investigator Paul Warner at (847) 377-4000.
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