Story posted Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Maine East Teacher Fired
By DWIGHT ESAU Journal & Topics Reporter
Jennifer Espinosa's employment in High School District 207 has been terminated, even as her attorney questions the legality of her arrest and interrogation on sex abuse charges involving a former Maine East High School student.
The board of education voted 7-0 on June 1 to terminate her employment as a special education and science teacher at Maine East. She was initially suspended from her duties after her arrest on May 25 on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old former student.
Substitute teachers have been assigned to teach Espinosa's classes for the remainder of the school year.
A married mother of three children, Espinosa is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The charges stem from her May 25 arrest that began as a drug surveillance stop by Cook County Sheriff's Police in the Golf Terrace Apartments parking lot, 9644 W. Golf Road. Officers allegedly smelled marijuana in her vehicle as they drove behind her car. Authorities said she drove with the 16-year-old youth with whom she is accused of having an affair, and another 22-year-old man. The two males are suspected gang members. Police said they stopped her car and questioned her because of suspected marijuana use.
The 16-year-old youth was expelled from Maine East last September. Police have said Espinosa's relationship with him was revealed during questioning of Espinosa after the drug stop.
Espinosa's attorney, Frank DiFranco of Park Ridge, received permission to have all audio and video recordings related to her arrest, questioning, and incarceration of Espinosa made available to him. He questions how police could smell marijuana from one vehicle to another, and he says he believes evidence will exonerate his client.
"Next Monday, I expect the grand jury will indict her on the sexual abuse charges, and there will be a preliminary hearing," DiFranco said this week. "After that, I will file motions asking the judge to quash the indictment and suppress evidence of what I believe is a flawed arrest and interrogation."
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