Dixon man pleads not guilty to abusing two children, by Angel Sierra, SaukValley (May 25, 2016)

DIXON – A former Catholic school custodian pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a single count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child younger than 13, in one of two such cases in which he is charged.

A grand jury indicted Christopher J. Huisheere, 43, of Dixon, on Friday, bringing to five the total number of sex-related charges in the two cases, both of which involve children younger than 13, investigators said.

One of the children was a girl, court records show. Officials would not reveal the sex of the other child.

Huisheere is in Lee County Jail on $50,000 and $75,000 bond, which means he must post $12,500 to be released.

The investigation began Nov. 27 and Huisheere was arrested Dec. 28 in the 500 block of West Third Street, Dixon Police Detective Sgt. Steve Howell said.

None of the incidents with which he is accused happened at St. Mary School, 704 S. Peoria Ave., where Huisheere was employed, Howell said.

The school was made aware of the investigation Nov. 28; Huisheere was fired Nov. 29, Rockford Diocese spokeswoman Penny Weigert confirmed.

Huisheere is accused of making both children touch his penis, and in addition, the girl also was sexually molested and penetrated. Both cases involve incidents that happened sometime between 2012 and 2013, investigators said.

In the most serious case, Huisheere is charged with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, each punishable by 6 to 30 years, and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, punishable by 3 to 7 years. He also has pleaded not guilty in that case.

He also is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse in the other case. His next hearing is June 9.