COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A Brentano Elementary security guard has been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old student on school grounds.
Ivan Cotto, 29, is accused of having sex with the 13-year-old girl multiple times from May to January. At least two of the sexual encounters happened inside the school at 2723 N. Fairfield Ave.
On Thursday night, a CPS spokesman said "a non-teaching employee" was "suspended indefinitely" from Brentano Elementary amid allegations of abuse. CPS sent home letters notifying parents of the allegations and Cotto's eventual arrest.
According to prosecutors, Cotto and the 13-year-old girl sent one another nude photos and texts saying "I love you."
Cotto is friends with the victim's mother, and often drove the victim and her younger sister to and from school, Assistant State's Attorney Brian Whang said during a bond hearing Thursday.
The relationship started in May 2015, when Cotto pulled the victim out of class and brought her to an isolated balcony in the school's auditorium, where he persuaded the girl to have sex with him, prosecutors said.
Whang noted that it's common practice at Brentano for security guards to pull students out of class for meetings with the administration or other teachers.
Cotto pulled the victim out of class for a similar sexual encounter one or two months later, according to prosecutors. The pair's remaining sexual encounters happened at Cotto's home from July to January.
During that time period, the victim, who is now 14, told her younger sister about the sexual relationship with Cotto, Whang said. The victim shared nude photos of Cotto with her sister, and often kissed and cuddled with Cotto in front of the sister, Whang added.
On Jan. 26, the victim's mother and stepfather found text messages between Cotto and the girl, according to prosecutors. Though the victim initially denied the relationship, she later confessed that she'd had sex with Cotto, Whang said.
Cotto, of the 8300 block of West Irving Park Road, was charged with criminal sexual assault.
Cotto's defense attorney said Cotto was divorced and had custody of his children.
Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan on Thursday ordered Cotto held in lieu of $300,000 bail. If Cotto should post bond, he's not allowed to have any contact with children under age 18 — including his own kids, Sullivan said.
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