West Chicago High School Janitor Charged with Abuse of Student

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that a janitor at West Chicago Community High School has been charged with two (2) counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse involving inappropriate contact with a female student. Francisco Pasillas, 33 (d.o.b. 11-17-71), who resides at 1603 Delaware Court in Geneva, was charged late last night, with Judge Ann Jorgensen setting his bail at $35,000. This morning a petition was filed requesting that Pasillas bond be increased based on additional information that came to the attention of law enforcement. Following a bond hearing today, Judge Jorgensen increased Pasillas’s bond to $250,000 - 10% to apply. Additionally, if the defendant posts bond, Judge Jorgensen ordered that he be placed on S.T.O.P., the State’s Attorney’s Target Offender Program, a home-monitoring plan. Pasillas was further ordered to have no contact with minors under the age of 17 and to not come within 1,000 feet of West Chicago High School or any other school premises.

State’s Attorney Birkett urged anyone who has information about this case or any other incident involving Pasillas to contact authorities at the DuPage Children’s Advocacy Center at 630-407-2750.

It has been alleged that in the early evening hours of Monday, May 2, 2005, a sixteen (16) year old female student was approached by the defendant as she stood immediately inside an entrance of West Chicago High School. The defendant, during the course of conversing with the girl, is alleged to have wrapped his arms around her, preventing her from breaking free, and touched her inappropriately.

The victim told a family member about the incident later that evening, and then reported the incident to school officials the next day, May 3rd. School officials immediately notified the West Chicago Police via the school liaison officer, and an investigation ensued in conjunction with the DuPage Children’s Advocacy Center. State’s Attorney Birkett authorized two (2) counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse late Wednesday afternoon.

"The protection of our children requires close attention to their activities at all times as well as educating them on how to respond to improper conduct," commented State’s Attorney Birkett. "I commend the victim in this case for her courage in reporting the alleged immoral conduct of this defendant."

Pasillas is next scheduled to appear for arraignment on June 7th at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 4004 before Judge Perry Thompson.

If found guilty, the defendant faces penalties of 3 to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, however the offense is probationable.

State’s Attorney Birkett again urged anyone with information on this case or any other incidents involving Pasillas to contact authorities at 630-407-2750.

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.