Barrington High School Boy Arrested for Sexual Assault

A 16-year-old Barrington High School boy has been arrested and charged with criminal sexual assault, a class 1 felony.

The student is accused of assaulting a 15-year-old girl, also a student of Barrington High, while in the stairwell of the school.

“The charges concern three episodes over 10 days that evidently culminated in a forced encounter between the offender and the victim on April 26. The final incident led to a felony charge of criminal sexual assault,” District 220 Superintendent Dr. Tom Leonard said in a statement.

The victim first reported the assault incident to a friend on April 26. That friend took her to school staff, who notified police. The boy was immediately taken into custody and suspended from school.

“No doubt this news is distressing to students, staff and parents. Within our means, safeguarding all members of the school community is a daily priority on every Barrington 220 campus. An assault such as this is especially troubling, but it compels us to remind students and staff how they can protect themselves and each other all year long,” Leonard said.

The boy will be tried as a juvenile in the Lake County juvenile court system. He was transferred to Hulse Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills for custody on May 1. Before he was taken into custody, he gave a verbal and written statement to police. The victim is now receiving counseling.