Illinois Department of Corrections Former Employee Charged with Improper Sexual Contact with Juvenile at Warrenville Correctional Center

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that charges have been filed against a former Illinois Department of Corrections employee at the Juvenile Detention Center in Warrenville for engaging in improper sexual conduct with a 17 year old female who was detained there.   Mark Duff, 28 (d.o.b. 7/27/76) of 211 E. Bradshaw in Dixon, Illinois has been charged with one (1) count of Criminal Sexual Assault.  Duff had served as a supervisor in the Dietary Unit at the Warrenville facility.  He appeared in bond court on Saturday, November 6, 2004 in Wheaton where Judge Eugene Wojcik set his bond at $500,000 – 10% to apply.

A complaint had been made in late July of 2004 to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) by a mandated reporter from the Warrenville facility.  An investigation was conducted by DCFS and the DuPage County Children’s Center.  It is alleged that between January and August of 2004, Duff, who at that time served as an Illinois Department of Corrections Juvenile Detention employee, engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a female juvenile who was in custody at this facility where Duff was employed.  At the conclusion of the investigation, on November 5th, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office authorized one (1) count of Criminal Sexual Assault against him.  

State’s Attorney Birkett praised the employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections,  Warrenville Youth Facility for reporting the allegations of child abuse to DCFS as mandated by law and for their professionalism throughout the course of this investigation.  In addition, he thanked the investigators of DCFS and the DuPage County Children’s Center for their work in this case. 

Criminal Sexual Assault is a Class 1 felony, and if found guilty, the defendant faces a penalty of 4 to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The defendant’s next court date has been set for November 29, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 4006 before Judge George Bakalis for arraignment.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.