Charges against a suburban elementary school principal accused of sexual assault of a child have been dropped, the principal's attorneys said Wednesday.
Attorney Dedrick Gordon said Sam Berrios, a principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Blue Island, was cleared of all charges Monday.
"Due to the public nature of the criminal accusations against him, it will be a challenge for Mr. Berrios to again regain his sterling reputation but he is willing to fight once again to dedicate his life to the education of children," Gordon said during a press conference.
The school confirmed the news in a note to parents.
"Late last week, we informed you that District 130 had been contacted by the Blue Island Police Department to advise us that Lincoln School Principal Mr. Sam Berrios was arrested on April 5 and charged on April 6," the note read. "Today, we were advised by the Blue Island Police Department that the sole charge against Mr. Berrios was dismissed."
The school said its two interim principals will continue to serve in the role until further notice.
In an email to parents last week, district officials said Principal Sam Berrios at Lincoln Elementary School in Blue Island was arrested following an allegation from a former student about an incident believed to have taken place during enrollment in a district school.
Local
Officials said they were first made aware of the allegation against Berrios in January and the principal was immediately placed on administrative leave. The allegation was reported to police and the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services.
Berrios had been principal for seven years, and had submitted his resignation in December of 2015, effective at the end of the current school year. Details on the alleged assault were not immediately known.
