Kane County prosecutors have authorized sexual assault and sexual abuse charges against an East Aurora School District 131 employee.

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office charged 62-year-old Juan C. Avendano with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, Class X felony, 5 counts aggravated criminal sexual abuse, Class 2 felony, and indecent solicitation of a child, Class 3 felony.

(CREDIT: Kane County SAO Facebook page)

Prosecutors allege that between April 2014 and March 2018 Avendano, identified by media reports as a bilingual kindergarten teacher at Bardwell Elementary School, made sexual contact with two victims who both are younger than 13 years old.

A Kane County judge issued a warrant for Avendano’s arrest and set his bail at $250,000 with 10 percent ($25,000) to apply for bond. The U.S. Marshal Service took Avendano into custody on March 19, 2018, at his home.

Avendano appeared Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Kane County bond court. The judge left bail at $250,000 and set his next court appearance for 9 a.m. April 5, 2018, in Courtroom 313 at the Kane County Judicial Center in front of Circuit Judge James C. Hallock.

Avendano is in custody at the Kane County jail. If he posts bond, he is to have no contact with the victims, no contact with any minor younger than 17, and must surrender his passport

If convicted of the most serious offense, Avendano faces a minimum sentence of six years’ imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections. In addition, Avendano would have to register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information should call their local police department or the Kane County Child Advocacy Center at (630) 208-5160.

The charges against Avendano are not proof of guilt. Avendano is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.