Police Officer Indicted On Sexual Abuse Charges

CHICAGO -- A veteran Chicago police officer accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with a 13-year-old female relative was indicted Tuesday on multiple counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Esteban Chavez appeared before Judge Matthew Coghlan. Coghlan announced the three-count indictment against Chavez.

Reading from proffered testimony at a Feb. 23 bond hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Katherine Muldoon said Chavez wrestled with the 13-year-old girl weekly between Oct. 1 and Feb. 4 when they were alone in his home on the Northwest Side.

During the wrestling, Chavez would fondle the girl, and on several occasions exposed himself, Muldoon said.

On one occasion, Chavez bit the girl's breast, Muldoon said.

The contact came to light last month, when the girl told her mother, who in turn confronted Chavez and notified police, Muldoon said.

Chavez was stripped of his police powers and was on unpaid status pending the outcome of the criminal case and the completion of an ongoing investigation by the police the Internal Affairs Division, Camden said.