Alleged recording of minor raises SAFE-T Act concerns

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(The Center Square) – A state senator and former prosecutor says crimes involving the abuse or exploitation of children should be detainable under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act.

Dagoberto Diaz, 48, a teacher at Carl Sandburg Middle School and girls volleyball coach at Mundelein High School, was released Wednesday after being charged with unauthorized video recording of a juvenile.

A Lake County judge said Diaz could not be detained under provisions of the SAFE-T Act.

State Sen. Darby Hills, R-Barrington Hills, said the case is alarming to her as a mom and former Cook County prosecutor.

“I believe any crime involving the abuse or exploitation of a child should be a detainable offense under the SAFE-T Act,” Hills told The Center Square.

Hills said protecting children must be the priority.

“Allowing someone that has exploited or abused a child to be let out back on the streets is just unacceptable,” Hills said. 

September 18 was the three-year anniversary of the SAFE-T Act’s provision to eliminate cash bail in Illinois and reform pretrial detention procedures.

Following the allegations in Mundelein, Hills renewed her push for legislation that requires people convicted of sexually motivated and unauthorized recordings of minors to register as sex offenders.

Hills said Diaz would not currently have to register as a sex offender if convicted.

“And he could go on without the public knowing what he has been charged and convicted of,” Hills said.

Hills said Senate Bill 2381 would close a loophole in state law.

“My original bill, 2381, was filed based on a similar situation where a teacher in Chicago was videotaping children in the bathroom, including a child with disabilities, and using that for sexual purposes,” Hills said.

Hills said the individual did not have to register as a sex offender and then went to another school and hurt more children.

Hills is facing a campaign challenge for her state Senate seat from state Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine. Syed’s campaign did not immediately respond to The Center Square’s request for comment.

When asked about the taxpayer cost of child sex abuse investigations, prosecutions and court proceedings, Hills said she did not have an exact number, but “it’s a large amount.”

Hills said the cost of the trauma to children and families never goes away.