North counselor charged with sexual abuse
Sun Staff February 22, 2011 5:08PM
Updated: September 24, 2012 6:25AM
A Naperville North High School counselor and girls golf coach was expected to surrender Wednesday to authorities on charges of sexually abusing a 16-year-old female student of the school.
John Carbonaro, a 33-year-old father of two from Warrenville, was charged Tuesday with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Paul Darrah, spokesman for DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, confirmed late Tuesday night Carbonaro allegedly had “inappropriate sexual contact with a Naperville North High School student” last summer.
Carbonaro “has not yet turned himself in, although we have spoken to his attorney, and he is scheduled to turn himself in” on Wednesday, Darrah said. Carbonaro will then appear before a DuPage County Circuit Court judge, who will set his bail, Darrah said.
“We do want to point out, just so the student body feels safe, that all indications are none of the alleged sexual contact occurred on the school grounds,” Darrah said. He declined to comment on where the alleged abuse might have occurred.
Naperville School District 203 Superintendent Mark Mitrovich said Carbonaro has been suspended with pay and relieved of all of his school-related duties and responsibilities.
“Any situation that places the welfare of a student at risk is of the highest concern to any educator. It is for this reason that I am profoundly shocked and disappointed over the news that an individual within our school system may have violated this deepest of trusts,” Mitrovich said Tuesday.
Details of Carbonaro’s alleged involvement with the student first came to the district’s attention Thursday, officials said.
“A concerned parent” contacted Naperville North Principal Kevin Pobst “to share information about a rumored, inappropriate relationship between Mr. Carbonaro and a student,” said Susan Rice, District 203’s director of communications.
“The principal immediately contacted district administration and reached out to the parents of the student named in the rumor,” Rice said. “The district notified the proper legal authorities, who began conducting a full investigation.” Rice added district officials are cooperating fully with that investigation.
Carbonaro was hired full-time in 2006, and at that time passed the required background checks conducted on all district employees. According to a Naperville North Web page, Carbonaro is the junior varsity girls golf coach.
“We want to stress to all of our families that District 203 takes allegations of misconduct by any staff member toward any student very seriously,” Rice said. “It is important that anyone who feels the actions of a staff member have been inappropriate bring their concerns to the attention of their school principal or district administration immediately.”
The district is providing counseling support in the school for any student or staff member who may need or want to discuss this issue. Parents were notified of the situation via the district electronic communications system.
