COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A teacher at Turner Drew Language Academy in Roseland has been removed from the classroom after he being charged with sexually assaulting a female friend after the two shared a bottle of wine one night last week.
Lewis Himes Jr., 41, brought the wine to the home of the alleged victim on May 28, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Christina Brewer said during a Wednesday bond hearing.
An already intoxicated Himes and the 41-year-old woman, who have been friends for 20 years, watched a basketball game, Brewer said. Afterward, the woman said she told Himes he could sleep on her couch or the floor "because he was too drunk to drive home."
The woman went to sleep and allegedly awoke later to find Himes in her bed.
Himes raped the woman, ignoring her commands to stop and thwarting her attempts to leave, Brewer said.
Himes left her home in the 1600 block of East 56th Street, and the victim sought medical treatment, the prosecutor said
Brewer said Himes later apologized in a text message for "forcing her to have sex with him."
According to court records, after Himes was arrested Monday at his job, where he teaches seventh and eighth grade, he implied to police that the sex was consensual.
On Wednesday, Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Himes held on $250,000 bond after learning that he is a teacher.
"I am concerned," Bourgeois said, "[about] a teacher with these allegations. Will the [school] board take steps?"
Chicago Public Schools issued a statement Wednesday afternoon.
"CPS is aware of these allegations, and the employee has been removed from the classroom," spokeswoman Becky Carroll stated via email. "We will follow any legal proceedings and take further action at the appropriate time as needed."
