Full Breakdown
Chicago Elementary Teacher Charged with Multiple Sexual Assault Counts
8/10/2026, 9:08:00 PM
Immediate Response to Allegations
After several third-grade students reported inappropriate touching by Mario Garcia, a 54-year-old teacher at Currier Elementary School in West Chicago, the district acted “immediately” to remove him from student contact, notify DuPage County police and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and later terminate his employment. The school district’s statement said staff took “immediate action” from “the moment concerns were reported.”
Legal Charges and Proceedings
The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that Garcia faces two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and four counts of aggravated battery. A judge ordered pre-trial detention at his first court appearance. The charges stem from alleged incidents during the 2025-2026 school year in which Garcia is said to have inappropriately touched five students on multiple occasions. Garcia’s next court appearance is scheduled for late August.
Official Reactions
DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin praised the district’s swift notification, calling the alleged acts “extremely disturbing” and emphasizing that the charges do not reflect on the district’s overall staff. West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury echoed this sentiment, noting the community’s trust in school personnel and commending the cooperation that enabled a rapid investigation. Superintendent Kristina Davis sent a message to families highlighting the courage of the students, reaffirming that Garcia had passed all required background checks, and outlining the district’s continued focus on support, education, and prevention.
Support Measures for the Community
The district is providing in-person crisis counseling at Leman Middle School without appointment and has partnered with the nonprofit Childhood Victories to expand age-appropriate personal-safety education, covering healthy boundaries, grooming awareness, and reporting procedures.
Verbatim Quote
“We appreciate the prompt notification and cooperation of Currier Elementary School and School District 33 officials, which allowed our officers to begin investigating immediately,” — Police Colin Fleury
