Chicago Breaking News
February 5, 2010
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/02/former-gym-teacher-charged-with-sex-with-student.html
CHICAGO (IL) -- A former gym teacher at a Catholic high school is being held on a criminal sex assault charge in connection with having sex with a student once a week for several months last year, authorities said.
Wesley Cherniak, 32, of the 3800 block of N. Bernard St., was charged Thursday and Cook County Criminal Court Judge Donald Panarese ordered him held in lieu of $250,000 bail in a bond hearing today.
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Cherniak was a physical education teacher at St. Benedict's High School and the victim, who was 17 at the time, was one of his students, prosecutors said.
Between February and May 2009, the defendant allegedly met the victim once a week at motels, his car and once in her bedroom, where he had sex with the teen, Assistant State's Attorney Kathleen Muldoon said in court.
In May 2009, the victim told her parents, and police were contacted. DNA evidence was taken from the victim's clothing, and was later matched to a sample taken from Cherniak, Muldoon said. Authorities also obtained telephone and motel records linking Cherniak to the alleged crimes, she said.
Under Illinois criminal law, anyone who holds "a position of trust" regarding someone under the age of 18 can be charged with criminal sexual assault if they have sex with the young person.
Cherniak, who is married and has a 6-month-old child, has no criminal history and cooperated with police when asked to give a DNA sample, his attorney said. The defendant currently works at a health care company.
Cherniak was slated to return to court Feb. 24.
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