Police: Stevenson High dean sent inappropriate messages to student

Police: Stevenson High dean sent inappropriate messages to student


Texting inquiry forwarded to state's attorney's office

By Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune reporter
9:19 AM CDT, April 19, 2012


A Stevenson High School dean is being investigated for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a student, Lincolnshire police Chief Peter Kinsey has confirmed.

Police have examined the texts and forwarded information to the Lake County state's attorney's office for further review, the chief said, though he added there was no immediate indication of any criminal activity.

"If you were a parent or an adult, you would say it was inappropriate … that the conversation occurred between the staff member and the student. But it is nothing of a criminal nature," Kinsey said. "We said, 'Let's play it safe.' We are letting the state's attorney see if they think there is anything criminal."

Kinsey, who had not personally reviewed the text messages, confirmed they were allegedly sent by a dean. He said the texts did not meet the criminal definition of "sexting," and that no photographs were involved.

Stevenson spokesman Jim Conrey said school officials "are investigating an incident involving one of our employees, but since it is a personnel matter, we are not able to discuss any details."

The school board holds its regular board meeting Thursday night, beginning with a closed executive session at 7 p.m. Conrey said he did not know if the board planned to discuss the employee in question or take action during the public meeting.

The employee, when contacted by a WGN-TV reporter at home Wednesday, declined comment.

In February, Stevenson officials confiscated the cellphones of students to crack down on campus drug sales by using their text messages to identify others. The investigative technique raised questions among some legal experts and unnerved students who said they assumed texting to be private.

WGN-TV reporter Julie Unruh and freelance reporter Susan Berger contributed.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-stevenson-texts-20120419,0,1671899.story