Berlin makes school safety a priority; former school security guard charged with multiple felonies
Downers Grove - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Downers Grove Chief of Police Shanon Gillette announced today that a former school security guard, Gonzalo Cesar Navejar, 39 (d.o.b. 1/16/1981) of 16A Kingery Quarter, Willowbrook has been charged with having inappropriate sexual-based communications with an underage female Downers Grove South High School student. On April 17, 2020, Judge Kavita Athanikar issued a $50,000 with 10% to apply arrest warrant for Navejar. Last Friday, April 24, Navejar turned himself in at the Downers Grove Police Department where he posted the necessary 10%, or $5,000 and was released. He has been charged with one count of Indecent Solicitation (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Grooming (Class 4 Felony).
On October 24, 2019, the School Resource Officer at Downers Grove South High School was notified that a security guard at the school allegedly contacted an underage female student through Internet-based social websites. It is alleged that between October 22 and October 24, 2019, Navejar contacted the girl in an attempt to seduce the girl to commit a sexual act with Navejar. Once authorities at the school were alerted to the alleged communications, they alerted the Downers Grove Police Department whose investigation led to the charges against Navejar.
“The allegations against Mr. Nevejar are, in a word, disgusting,” Berlin said. “Instead of protecting students, Mr. Navejar allegedly tried to engage in sexual activity with an underage girl to satisfy his sick sexual desires. Sexual predators are among the most vile in our society and anyone accused of such behavior, as alleged in this case, will find themselves looking at significant charges. I would like to thank authorities at Downers Grove South High School for bringing this matter to the attention of law enforcement. I would like to thank the Downers Grove Police Department for their work on this case. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen Rowe for their efforts on this very disturbing case.”
"I would like to thank the State's Attorney's Office for their assistance throughout this investigation." Gillette said.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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