Other Allegations Surface for Church Volunteer Charged with Abuse

By Robert McCoppin
Chicago Tribune
May 21, 2013

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/barrington_area/ct-met-willow-creek-volunteer-arrested-0522-20130522,0,771339.story

Hoffman Estates man worked with kids in Barrington Park District program

A church volunteer charged with the sexual abuse of a boy also worked with children at two Barrington schools and additional allegations of abuse are being investigated, officials said Tuesday.

Robert Sobczak, 19, of Hoffman Estates, who was charged this month with the sexual abuse of a minor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, also worked in a Barrington Park District program called K.E.E.P. that provides before- and after-school services for children at Lines and Grove Avenue elementary schools, officials said.

Park District officials said they only learned of Sobczak's arrest through media accounts and were never informed by state or local investigators. Sobczak had worked in the K.E.E.P. program since August, officials said, but was terminated this month.

Both church and park district officials said Sobczak passed background checks, and park officials said he was always under the supervision of other staff. School officials said they were not aware of any other allegations of wrongdoing. But an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokesman said Tuesday that the agency has received two new claims of abuse involving Sobczak since Thursday and are investigating.

State and local investigators said they were unaware that Sobczak worked with children in another capacity until after his arrest. DCFS only learned of Sobczak's parks job on Tuesday from a call to its hotline, said agency spokesman Dave Clarkin.

Sobczak was a volunteer worker in Willow Creek's Special Friends program for children with disabilities when he took a boy to an isolated area at the church and fondled him on Feb. 17, prosecutors charged. Church officials said they notified authorities that day, and Sobczak was charged on May 10, authorities said.

Sobczak denied the claim from the start, church officials said.

South Barrington police Chief Raymond Cordell said detectives were still investigating the case.

Sobczak was freed after posting a $10,000 cash bond, officials said. He could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Barrington Community Unit School District 220 Superintendent Tom Leonard issued a statement Tuesday saying school officials learned of Sobczak's job with the parks program on Monday.

Anyone with further information or questions is asked to call South Barrington police at 847-381-7511. For a list of warning signs of abuse go to http://www.DCFS.illinois.gov.

Contact: rmccoppin@tribune.com