A Chicago Public Schools counselor is facing charges after allegedly sexually abusing a student, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Deshone Jackson, 33, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and public indecency, according to the report. Jackson, of the 5900 block of S. Wabash Ave., was a counselor at Manley High School, located in the 2900 block of W Polk St. in the Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. He was contracted through a federal grant program called Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or GEAR UP.
Jackson met the 17-year-old boy through GEAR UP at the school and began texting with him in the fall of 2015, according to the Tribune. In October, Jackson texted the victim asking for a photo, and the boy sent Jackson a nude photo of himself.
Later that month, Jackson texted the victim asking him to meet him in a third floor classroom, the Tribune reported. When the victim arrived, he allegedly found Jackson at a desk with his pants and underwear at his ankles.
Jackson then asked the victim to touch him, and the victim complied, according to the report. The victim pretended to be texting, took photos of Jackson, then left the classroom. He then told several friends what happened, showing them the photos, which were later inadvertently deleted by the victim.
Earlier this month, around Jan. 4, the victim told a school employee about the incident, who notified the principal, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Jackson was arrested Thursday at his home, according to the report. He was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bail. He is due in court on Monday.
