A security guard at a Logan Park school is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old student in the school auditorium.
Ivan Cotto, a family friend of the victim, also texted nude photos of himself to the girl and asked her to send lewd pictures to him, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Whang said Thursday.
In some of the texts, the two proclaimed their love for each other and referred to each other as “babe,” Whang said.
Cotto, a 29-year-old divorced father, was charged with criminal sexual assault. Judge Laura Sullivan set bail at $300,000 and ordered Cotto to have no contact with minors, including his children, while awaiting trial.
In May, Cotto took the girl out of class at Brentano Elementary Math and Science Academy and took her to an isolated balcony in the school’s auditorium, where he persuaded the girl to have sex with him after she refused, Whang said.
A month or two later, Cotto pulled the girl out of class again and took her to the auditorium, Whang said. There he allegedly asked her to perform a sex act. The girl refused but gave in, Whang said. She also had sex with Cotto during that encounter, Whang said.
Between July and January, Cotto had sex with the girl three more times at his house, in the 8000 block of West Irving Park, authorities said.
Cotto would often give the girl and her sister a ride to school in the 2700 block of North Fairfield, authorities said.
The girl, who is now 14, told her sister about the relationship in May. She eventually showed her sister the photos, Whang said.
The younger sister also saw Cotto give the victim an open-mouth kiss after dropping them off home from school one day, Whang said. The younger girl also saw the two cuddling as they watched a movie at Cotto’s house, Whang said.
Last month, the victim’s mother and stepfather confronted her after reading her texts with Cotto. The girl initially denied that she was seeing Cotto but then admitted having sex with him, Whang said.
Investigators found text messages between Cotto and the girl going back to October 2015.
The principal at Brentano directed questions to CPS officials.
“Last week, CPS indefinitely suspended a non-teaching employee at Brentano Math and Science Academy in response to allegations of abuse,” the district said in a written statement. “CPS is fully cooperating with law enforcement, and we have provided resources to the school to help students and staff during this challenging time.”
