CPS employee charged with sexual abuse

A 53-year-old CPS employee has been charged with criminal sexual abuse for allegedly touching a teenage boy he offered to drive home, prosecutors said.

On Feb. 15, the student was walking home from a Southwest Side high school when Juan Jose Ibarra offered him a ride home because it was raining, Assistant State’s Attorney Akash Vyas said.

The 16-year-old boy had accepted rides from Ibarra in the past, prosecutors said.

During the drive, Ibarra asked the boy if he worked out, if he was in shape and if he could see his abs, Vyas said.

When the boy refused, Ibarra grabbed his bookbag from his lap, put it on the floor and touched him over his clothes, Vyas said.

Ibarra then tried to pull up the boy’s shirt to see his abs, according to prosecutors, who said he gave the boy a hug after he told Ibarra to stop.

The boy eventually exited the vehicle near his home.

In April, the boy learned that Ibarra had been arrested and charged with criminal sexual abuse for conduct at an XSport Fitness in west suburban Lyons, Vyas said. Ibarra allegedly was in a shower and asked a teenage boy for shampoo, then reached under the boy’s towel and grabbed him, Vyas said.

The Chicago high school student told his father and step-mother what happened and police were contacted.

Ibarra was suspended without pay in April, authorities said.

“Chicago Public Schools takes allegations of unlawful activity by its employees very seriously. Due to the ongoing police investigation, we cannot comment further at this time,” spokesman Michael Passman said in an email.

Ibarra, of the 2200 block of North Homan Avenue, was arrested and charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil on Monday ordered Ibarra held on $50,000 bail and said he can’t have contact with any children, including his 15-year-old boys.

He will be back in court June 19.