Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
July 11, 2019
Hon. Kim Foxx
Cook County State’s Attorney
69 W. Washington Street
Chicago, IL 60602
We, the 150+ undersigned parents, teachers, and community members of Thomas J.
Waters Elementary School, at 4540 N Campbell Avenue in Chicago, are writing to
express our deep concern about the potentially light sentence for Jason Gil, a former
math teacher. Gil faces charges that he groomed, sexually abused, and assaulted a
student over a threeyear period starting in her 6thgrade year (2016), when she was 12
and he was 41, and ending only with his arrest in early 2019. The charges include Gil’s
kissing the victim in a CPS classroom, multiple sexual encounters with the young victim,
and exchanges of naked photos with the victim. If found guilty on all charges, Gil could
be sentenced to 2160 years and be required to register as a child sex offender for the
rest of his life.
We urge you to push for a sentence within that range, which includes lifetime child sex
offender registration.
We view this case as a test of the seriousness with which the State’s Attorney’s Office,
the Cook County Judiciary, and other public officials treat the problem of sexual abuse
within CPS. The case (#19CR03429) is now in Judge Aleksandra Gillespie’s court.
Indictments include: two charges of criminal sexual assault, two charges of aggravated
criminal sexual abuse, 12 counts of child pornography, one charge of grooming, and
three charges of distributing harmful material to a minor. These charges are based on
the age of the victim and the legal capacity for consent.
Given the reporting in 2018 of widespread sexual abuse within CPS, we know this is not
an isolated case. Our group, “Protect CPS Students,” is so named because our
concerns extend to all students in Chicago Public Schools. We have followed the case
very closely, sending representatives to each court appearance.
We understand that the prosecution and defense are discussing a possible plea deal.
We know plea deals are an important part of the justice system; we respect you, your
office, and the prosecutors on your staff who work tirelessly to keep us safe. That said,
Gil’s sentence must hold him to the highest standard of culpability and reflect the
severity of his crimes against a child to whom he was a teacher, a mentor, and an
authority figure.
We have great empathy for the victim and her family. There is no way to undo the
trauma she, her family, and her friends will continue to endure, not to mention the
trauma to Gil’s own children and family, and all the waves of harm rippling through our
community, impacting both his former colleagues as well as the many students, and
their families, who spent time in his classroom.
This is no ordinary case. Gil’s defense attorney has claimed that the sexual encounters
between the victim and Gil – a man in his 40s – was consensual. This claim is
loathsome and has no legal standing. In the wake of the Chicago Tribune’s “Betrayed”
series last summer, it would be a grave mistake to set a low bar for the sentencing of a
predatory CPS teacher. If a light sentence is handed down to the first teacher convicted
since the problem was exposed, what message would it send to the children of Cook
County? What message would it send to other potential predators?
Our uppermost concern is the safety of all CPS children. We want to know that an
educator facing 20 felony charges for the abuse and assault of a minor student will not
be walking the streets again in 18 months. Please be vigilant with this case for our
children’s sake. We are paying attention.
Sincerely,
Protect CPS Students
protectcpsstudents@gmail.com
Maria Abella Rhadika Sharma Gordon Clarissa Medina
Pedro Alvarez Andrea Gibson Selma Mehmedagic
Perla Alvarez Thomas Gunderson Luis Menacho
Rebecca Atwood Yvonne Soong Gunderson Melissa McGowan
Ann Hopkins Avery Dan Grzeca Ed McKim
Lance Avery Chad Halverson Cheryl McNally
Adalberto Baca Johanna Winter Harper Edward McNally
Clementina Baca John Harper Tessie SmithMeseth
Griscelda Baca Anna Howe Harris Josh R. Meseth
Sandra Barlow Josh Harris Tamara Mihalap
Erica Battin Elvia Heneghan Amy Morgan
Michael Battin Michael Heneghan Amy Horsley Morgan
Doug Benning Eric Herman Michael Morgan
Daniel Bjurstrom Michelle Higa Douglas Mosurak
Brian Boland Sol Hinami Beth Moxson
Lien Boland Keiki Hinami Mike Moxson
Rick Bolliger Nate Hutcheson Karen Nevotti
Katia Borione Gwen Ihnat Hope Nichols
Julie Brady Katherine Jerinic Heather Norborg
Antonia Bustos Lilly Juarez Jessie Novak
Leonel Bustos Tracy Kaempf Javier Obregon
Molly Buren Lisa Kearney Molly O’Keefe
Susan Carland Abigail Kelly Griscelda Pashazade
George Cedarquist Brendan Kelly Orlando Pashazade
Josh Chicoine James Kennedy Claudia Palacios
Kristen Christensen Jim Kleinick Carolyn Pavelkis
Jeff Conway Lindsay Huser Kleinick Craig Pavelkis
Ellen Cozy Steven Kosak Allison Pelsoci
Michael Cozy Ellen Kozy Martin Perdoux
Tim Davison Jennifer Kozy Eduardo Poeleniz
Carolyn ByerlyDean Michael Kozy Regina Prajapati
Ron Dean Mitch Langeler Hemal Prajapati
Anthony Del Valle Jack Lewis Ben Ranney
Christina Dickens Julie Lewis Genevra Ranney
Brandon Dickens Luis Lopez Alison MacDonald Ryan
Aaron Durnbaugh Emily Lonigro Brian Rangel
Laura Ellsworth Rick Lumsden Kitty River
Eileen Favorite Diane Lyman Angela Schlater
Peter Fogarty Patrick Lyman Aimee Schnabel
Lynn Fogarty Karen Maki Eric Schnabel
Lilliana Franco Michael Marsh Denise Sebanc
Ari Frede Darian Martyniuk Robert Sebanc
Jaime Freedman Kathleen Matuszewich Julie Serilla
Jessica Fuentes Alicia Mayorca
Lydia Milman Schmidt Michael Sullivan Geri Weinstock
Alan Shortall Gail Stern Matt Weinstock
Luisa Shortall Elise Thanasouras Marie Walz
Erica Smith Michael Thanasouras Kristen Willoughby
Joaquin Soler Jacob Tonski Amy Yoder
Sarah Soler Sharon Tonski
Cara Sullivan Laura Vergara
Ellen Sullivan Elaine Vozar
cc:
Lori Lightfoot, Mayor, City of Chicago
Janice Jackson, CEO, Chicago Public Schools
Jesse Sharkey, President, Chicago Teachers Union
Ann Williams, Illinois State Representative, 11th District
John Cullerton, Illinois Senate President and State Senator, 6th District
Matt Martin, Alderman, 47th Ward
Andre Vasquez, Alderman, 40th Ward
Rosanna Rodriguez, Alderman, 33rd Ward