Crime & Safety

Counselor Accused of Sexual Abuse Turns Himself in to Authorities

A Naperville North High School counselor and golf coach turned himself in this morning in Wheaton on charges of criminal sexual abuse.

A a 16-year-old girl turned himself in to authorities Wednesday morning.

The DuPage County State's Attorney against staff member John Carbonaro, 33, of the 3S600 block of Melcher Avenue in Warrenville, after police said a concerned parent called the school Thursday and told the principal about a relationship Carbonaro had with a teenage student. He turned himself in to authorities Wednesday morning and was released after posting 10 percent, or $20,000, of a $200,000 bail.

"It is alleged in the complaint that the defendant became involved in an improper relationship with a female student under the age of 18 … the defendant engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with the victim," stated a news release sent Wednesday by the DuPage County State's Attorney. "It is alleged that on more than one occasion during the summer of last year, Carbonaro sexually abused his victim at his home."

Find out what's happening in Napervillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

School administrators immediately contacted authorities to begin an investigation, . Carbonaro—a counselor and the school's junior varsity girls' golf coach, according to the Naperville North website—is suspended without pay and has been "removed from all duties and responsibilities within the district," according an e-mailed statement from .

An investigation also is underway by the DuPage County Children’s Advocacy Center.

Find out what's happening in Napervillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“If these allegations are proven true, Mr. Carbonaro used his position of trust and authority as a member of the school faculty to sexually abuse his young victim,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. “He allegedly betrayed the trust placed in him by the school, the victim’s parents and the victim to satisfy his own desires."

Berlin thanked Naperville North High School for bringing the matter to his attention quickly, as well as Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pawl and Children’s Center Investigator Boris Vrbos for working on the case.

Carbonaro was hired as a full-time employee in 2006. At that time, he successfully passed the required background checks conducted on all District 203 employees, district officials have said.

The Naperville Park District acknowledged in a news release late Wednesday afternoon that Carbonaro was a part-time employee of the  park district and he has been suspended without pay  pending an investigation of his activities.

He has worked part-time for the Naperville Park District since 2006, the park district's news release said. He served as a summer camp coach for programs conducted at Naperville North High School from 2006-2009 and he has been employed since December 2010 as a range officer at Sportsman’s Park.

He now faces two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. His next court appearance is scheduled at 9 a.m. March 23 in courtroom 4012.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.