Wonder Lake teacher arrested after texting with student

An elementary school teacher in northwest suburban Wonder Lake was arrested last week after he was caught texting with a student, police announced Monday.

Scott Smessaert, 42, has been charged with one Class C misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, according to a statement from the McHenry County sheriff’s office.

Smessaert, a teacher from Harrison Elementary School at 6809 McCullom Lake Rd. in Wonder Lake, “was conversing with a student through text messages outside of school,” police said.

“Due to the content of the text messages,” he had become the subject of an investigation by the sheriff’s office, which was initially contacted by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

He was arrested June 24 when the sheriff’s office served a criminal warrant, police said. The administration of Harrison School cooperated with detectives throughout the investigation. The contents of the text messages were not provided.

Smessaert, who lives in McHenry, was taken to the McHenry County Correctional Facility, but has since been released on a $150 bond, police said. He is next scheduled to appear in court July 22.