A Harvey school board member accused of sexually assaulting a woman wore an “I Love Jesus” T-shirt when a Cook County judge on Tuesday set his bail at $50,000.
The victim was previously acquainted with Tyrone Rogers, 59, who also is a longtime city of Harvey employee, when he led her into his municipal office and sexually assaulted her, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Driscoll said inside the Markham courthouse.
“The defendant is employed as a director of Metra parking for the town of Harvey, and also is an elected member of the Harvey Board of Education,” Driscoll said.
Rogers is charged with one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault, court records show.
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The 49-year-old victim and a female friend went to the Harvey municipal building, 15320 Broadway Ave., on Friday afternoon seeking help with a raccoon problem the friend had at her home, prosecutors said. The victim had known Rogers for years, prosecutors said.
After bringing the victim alone into his office, Rogers grabbed her hand and said he wanted to have sex with her, prosecutors said. When she rejected him, Rogers pulled her pants down and sexually assaulted her, prosecutors said.
The woman hurt her ankle while breaking free from Rogers and went to a nearby hospital after telling her friend she had been raped, prosecutors said. A sexual assault kit was collected at the hospital. Cook County sheriff’s police were contacted to start an investigation.
Rogers was taken into custody Saturday night, the sheriff’s office said.
Rogers was placed on unpaid leave from his municipal job with no access to city equipment or property, Harvey spokesman Sean Howard said. He said the city administration was “deeply disturbed” by the allegations and would consider additional employment actions upon learning more details at the bond hearing.
Rogers is scheduled to return to court Sept. 19.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter.