A former St. Charles North High School employee is headed to prison for having sexual contact with a minor.

Christopher A. Lee, 31, of the 300 block of North 15th Street, St. Charles, agreed Monday (Dec. 5, 2016) to a sentence of four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. Circuit Judge James C. Hallock accepted the plea.

Christopher A. Lee (CREDIT: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office)

During the plea hearing, Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Debra Bree stated that sometime between February 2015 and May 2015 Lee had sexual contact with the victim. Lee at the time was a dean’s assistant at St. Charles North High School. He knew the victim, who was younger than 18, because she was a student at the school. The contact reflected in the charges did not take place on school property.

According to Illinois law, Lee is eligible for day-for-day sentencing. He receives credit for 42 days served in the Kane County jail. He remains free on $15,000 bond. Lee was ordered to surrender to the court on Dec. 27, 2016, to begin his sentence.

In addition, Lee must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act.

The case was prosecuted by ASA Bree, the executive director of the Kane County Child Advocacy Center, and ASA Reagan Pittman. It was investigated by the Kane County Child Advocacy Center with assistance from St. Charles police.

“Everyone who works at a school, whether full-time, part-time or as a volunteer, is entrusted with the well-being of every child at the school. Parents rightfully trust that their children are in good hands at school. Mr. Lee defied that trust. Students deserve a safe environment to learn and grow, and not be taken advantage of. This sentence reflects that. Thanks to the St. Charles School District 303 officials for cooperating with the investigation, and thanks to the St. Charles Police Department for their assistance with the investigation,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.