On Nov. 9, Evanston Police responded to 1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston Township High School, referencing a criminal sexual assault involving an ETHS student. Investigators interviewed a 14 year old student, who asserted that another acquaintance, a 17 year old student forced her to have sex in a third floor bathroom at ETHS, said Commander Tom Guenther, public information officer of the Evanston Police Department.
Evanston police investigators working with ETHS security quickly identified the alleged offender, and then conducted the appropriate interviews with the victim and suspect, said the Commander. Additionally, investigators obtained and analyzed video surveillance footage further clarifying the investigation.
After conducting extensive interviews and analyzing the video surveillance footage, investigators determined that certain inconsistencies existed with the victim’s original statement, said the Commander. When confronted with these inconsistencies, the female victim recanted some of her original statement, indicating that the events in question had been, in part, consensual, he said.
Continuing this investigation, investigators contacted the Cook County State’s Attorney office, who was then apprised of all the pertinent facts in this case. After so being informed Evanston investigators were advised that no felony charges would be approved, citing inconsistencies in the victim’s statement, which did not support the victim’s allegation that the acts in question were forced, said the Commander.
Based on this finding the male juvenile offender was charged with misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse, due to the victim being 14 years of age at the time of the incident, said the Commander,