September 5, 2008 - Stephen J. Chromik, 25, a Metamora High School teacher and soccer coach, was ordered held on $100,000 bond for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old
female student.
He is charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse for two alleged incidents in May at his Peoria County apartment.
Assistant State's Attorney Steve Pattelli said authorities learned of the alleged sexual relationship after the girl, a member of the school's soccer team, told some of her friends that Chromik grabbed her from behind by a belt loop and pulled her close to him at a soccer practice in May. Nothing more happened, and the girl didn't report the incident but told some of her friends on the team, Pattelli said in open court.HIGHER BOND: In seeking the high bond, Pattelli told Judge Glenn Collier that Chromik was on probation at the time for a felony aggravated assault from Tennessee. That case, which was pled down from a sexual battery charge, apparently stemmed from an 2003 incident at Vanderbilt University, where Chromik was linked to an incident at the school. He was placed on five years' probation beginning in 2005, according to court records.
News filtered to district officials, who then investigated along with police. Later, it was learned the girl had gone to Chromik's apartment twice and had sex, Pattelli said.
Chromik resigned from the district in July and apparently moved out of the area.
Chromik's arrest comes nearly a year after a rash of teacher-involved sexual crimes stung Peoria and the surrounding area. Three teachers were convicted within the past year of engaging in sexual relationships with students, past or present. They involved teachers from two District 150 schools as well as an Illini Bluffs teacher.
