Bail lowered for Hinsdale-area man charged with abusing student

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Steven E. Reynolds

Updated: February 10, 2012 1:16PM

A Hinsdale-area man who teaches at an Orland Park high school had sexual contact with a 17-year-old student in his DuPage County home while his wife was out of town, prosecutors said Friday as Steven Reynolds sought to lower his bail.

Judge George Bakalis agreed to reduce Reynolds’ bail to $100,000 from $250,000 after prosecutors outlined the case against the 26-year-old substitute teacher and freshman basketball coach at Sandburg High School.

Reynolds is charged with felony criminal sexual abuse for engaging in sexual activity with the high school senior on Jan. 28 while the two spent the weekend together at his Hinsdale-area home, prosecutors said. His wife was visiting relatives in another state, prosecutors said.

Reynolds was arrested Monday after the girl told two friends about the encounter, prosecutors said. The teens told their parents and Sandburg officials, who contacted police.

Reynolds, who had started teaching at the school in spring 2011, later gave a videotaped statement to investigators admitting he “knew his relationship with her was wrong,” prosecutor Ann-Celine O’Halleran said during the hearing.

If convicted, Reynolds faces up to seven years in prison, though he also would be eligible for probation.

Reynolds may be able to post the lower bond needed to secure his release, defense attorney Joseph Laraia said.