Sandburg teacher charged with sexually abusing student

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Steven E. Reynolds/photo from DuPage County Sheriff's office

Updated: March 9, 2012 8:10AM

A Sandburg High School teacher and coach charged with having sexual contact with a 17-year-old student in his DuPage County home was ordered jailed Tuesday on $250,000 bail.

Steven Reynolds, 26, engaged in sexual activity with the girl on Jan. 28 after she came to his Hinsdale-area home, prosecutors said.

He was charged Monday with criminal sexual abuse after the teen told others about the sexual contact, prosecutors said. Reynolds is a substitute teacher and freshman basketball coach at the Orland Park school. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.

School officials contacted police after being told that Reynolds had acted inappropriately off school grounds with a student, prosecutors said.

Police said Reynolds had inappropriate contact with the student on multiple occasions over the last several weeks.

Consolidated High School District 230 spokeswoman Carla Erdey said administrators learned of the allegations against Reynolds on Monday.

“The administration immediately notified DCFS and local police and continues to cooperate fully with authorities in this ongoing investigation,” Erdey said Tuesday.

In a statement, District 230 Supt. James Gay said, “I would like to commend the individuals who brought this information to the school’s attention and the swift manner in which the school administration and local authorities addressed this very sensitive situation.”

Sandburg athletic director Bruce Scheidegger declined comment. Sandburg principal Debbie Boniface did not immediately return a phone call.

Contributing: Steve Metsch, Tina Sfondeles