Lake County Deputy Coroner Robert Barrett Faces Six Counts In Child Sexual Abuse

Girl Claims Coroner Molested Her 'Two, Three Times A Week' For Years

A deputy coroner in Lake County, Ill. faces four charges of criminal sexual assault and two charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, based on allegations of a recently discovered, years-long sexual relationship with a teenage girl.

Robert Barrett, 42, is a veteran at the coroner's office, having served there for ten years. He was caught on Sunday in a compromising position with a 14-year-old girl, according to a Chicago Sun-Times source.

After Barrett's wife heard him that night talking about committing suicide, police apprehended the deputy coroner and brought him to Vista West Medical Center in Waukegan for psychiatric evaluation.

In the interim, the girl was taken to Children's Advocacy Center for further questioning. Lake County prosecutors now believe that Barrett has had sexual contact with the same girl for many years, the suburban Daily Herald reports.

The Chicago Tribune spoke with Assistant State's Attorney Patricia Fix, who reported some of the victim's allegations. The girl "said he touched her inappropriately," according to Fix. "Per the victim, this was going on for a while, two to three times a week."

All six charges against Barrett, the longest-serving deputy coroner in his office, pertain to his contact with the one girl.

If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison, according to NBC Chicago.

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