May 25, 2009 12:33 pm US/Central
Teacher Charged With Having Sex With Ex-Student
SKOKIE, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
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Jennifer Espinosa, 38, was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old former student. She teaches science and special ed classes at Maine East High School.
Cook County Sheriff's Office
A Maine East High School teacher was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old former student. Bond was set at $50,000 Monday.
Jennifer Espinosa, 38, of Park Ridge, was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse as a result of an eight-month relationship with a former student, according to a Cook County Sheriff's office release.
Espinosa told police she "loves" the 16-year-old boy, who was expelled from Maine East in September and is a known Sureno 13 gang member, the release said.
Espinosa was taken in for questioning by Sheriff's police on Saturday night near the Golf Terrace Apartments, 9644 N. Golf Terrace, after police smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from behind Espinosa's 2009 Honda Pilot, the release said.
As police curbed the car and noticed the windows were rolled down, they noticed one person moving quickly to a back seat. All people in the car were ordered out and Espinosa immediately told police she was a Maine East teacher, the release said.
Officer recognized the 16-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man as known gang members.
Police searched the car and recovered a bag of suspected marijuana. Alejandro Landi, 22, of Niles, was charged with misdemeanor drug possession.
Upon questioning of the suspects in the vehicle, Espinosa told investigators she was a teacher and mentor to the boy until he was expelled. She said their relationship began after his expulsion, the release said.
Police said they told them they have had sex numerous times, in her Park Ridge home and in her car at various locations around the high school.
Espinosa, who is married with two children, was a former soccer coach at Maine East and teaches science and special education at the school, the release said.
Espinosa appeared in Skokie bond court Monday and must post $5,000 cash, or 10 percent of her bond to be released from custody.
She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Friday, May 29.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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