Decatur school security officer arrested, accused of sexually abusing Eisenhower student
DECATUR IL December 29 2018 — A Decatur School District security officer is facing a preliminary charge of the criminal sexual abuse of an Eisenhower High School student.
The 31-year-old man was arrested Dec. 20. Detective Sgt. David Pruitt, who works with the Decatur Police Department Juvenile Division, said he was given a notice to appear in court and was not booked into the Macon County Jail.
Pruitt would not comment any further on the nature of the offense or the student involved. He confirmed the arrest but said the decision to file formal charges now rested with the legal system.
“It will be up to the state’s attorney’s office,” he said.
Macon County State’s Attorney Jay Scott said Thursday that his office had not yet had an opportunity to review paperwork connected with the case. He said his office will determine whether to apply felony or misdemeanor charges, or whether to file any charge at all. Scott said all police reports, evidence and witness statements will be reviewed carefully.
As for why the man was not processed through the Macon County Jail, Scott said that choice was at the discretion of the arresting police officer. He said police can take factors into account, such as the nature of the offense, the cooperativeness of the suspect and even the suspect’s family commitments.
School district spokeswoman Maria Robertson said the accused security officer has been placed on administrative leave.
“Student safety is a priority. We have been made aware of the arrest,” she said. “The matter is being handled and investigated by the Decatur Police Department with the support of Decatur public schools.”
This incident is the second involving a school district security guard with a connection to Eisenhower. Dylan W. Nunn, 27, a guard who also coached girls freshman basketball at the high school, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of the indecent solicitation of a child and two counts of “grooming,” using electronic communications to seduce a child into committing sex acts.
Nunn’s case is set for a Feb. 20 jury trial in Macon County Circuit Court.
Matthew E. Krause, 26, who once coached sports at Eisenhower, has pleaded not guilty to one count of the sexual exploitation of a child and one count of grooming. His case is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Jan. 2.
Herald
