Jeremy Lind, the Oak Park and River Forest High School English teacher who last December was arrested and charged with numerous felonies for allegedly having a sexual relationship with one of his students, has been removed from electronic home monitoring and placed in a curfew program, according to Cook County court documents.
Since his Dec. 14 arrest, Lind, 41, has been living in Chicago with a relative and undergoing alcohol abuse treatment and periodic psychotherapy, records show. A court official noted that Lind’s transition from house arrest into the county’s pretrial services monitoring program could indicate that he may be working.
As part of the conditions of the $150,000 bond he posted after his arrest, Lind was forced to surrender his passport and cannot have contact with anyone under 18, except for family members.
On Jan. 12, a grand jury returned 22-count indictment against Lind, including four counts of criminal sexual assault, one count of attempted criminal sexual assault, six counts of criminal sexual abuse, four counts of traveling to meet a minor, one count of child pornography and one count of grooming.
The criminal sexual assault charges are Class 1 felonies, which are punishable for up to 30 years in prison, if Lind is convicted.
During a bond hearing in December, Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Turnock told a judge that Lind’s relationship with the girl began when she was 16 years old and continued after her 17th birthday.
The Chicago Tribune reported at the time that Turnock said the two met on a June 2015 school trip to Ireland during which Lind was a chaperone and that “they spent a lot of time together on the trip.”
After the teenager’s mother grew concerned with her contact with Lind, Turnock said the girl was “removed from the class.”
Turnock said Lind met with the girl on at least three days in Chicago in September and “engaged in sexual acts” with her. Turnock, according to the Tribune, said after the two met again on Sept. 25 during a meeting that was interrupted by a call from Lind’s baby-sitter, the girl told two friends about the interactions.
School officials discovered the allegations on Sept. 30 and placed Lind on administrative leave on Oct. 1.
“When the allegations were reported, school officials immediately reported the information to the Department of Children and Family Services and placed Lind on leave,” according a statement Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 officials released at the time. “The matter has been under investigation by Oak Park and Chicago law enforcement authorities since that time.”
After the investigation began, the district assigned a long-term substitute and another staff member to teach Lind’s courses. The district also notified students to direct their requests for recommendation letters to other faculty members, and advised students to talk with counselors and social workers if they needed to.
CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
