MUNDELEIN, Ill. () — A suburban volleyball coach has been charged with allegedly recording a high school student without her knowledge, police said.
The incident was reported on Aug. 18 at Mundelein High School, according to Mundelein police.
A female student told school staff that the junior varsity volleyball coach may have been filming her after taking her into a room for what he described as “stretching and jumping exercises.”
Police identified the coach as 48-year-old Dagoberto Diaz of Mundelein. Diaz also teaches at Carl Sandburg Middle School, authorities said.
Investigators seized Diaz’s phone and found images and videos of the student on the device.
Diaz was taken into custody Tuesday at a family member’s home in Mundelein. He faces one count of unauthorized video recording of a juvenile, a Class 3 felony.
“The Mundelein Police Department would like to thank the students involved for having the courage to come forward with the suspicious circumstances,” police said.
Dr. Corey Tafoya, superintendent of Mundelein School District 120 and Mundelein Elementary District 75, said school staff promptly notified police and the Department of Children and Family Services.
“While we are deeply troubled by this situation, we are also incredibly proud of the students who demonstrated the courage to speak up when something did not feel right,” Tafoya said.
Diaz was placed on leave the day the incident was reported and has not been permitted to return to school property, Tafoya said.
“The district will take all necessary steps to pursue termination of his employment,” Tafoya said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mundelein Police Department at 847-968-4600.
Diaz was released under pretrial supervision after the court determined that the charge is not detainable.
As conditions of his release, he was ordered to follow a curfew and have no contact with the victim, minors, schools, parks or daycares.
Diaz’s next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26 at 9 a.m.
