Willow Creek volunteer Robert Sobczak charged with fondling boy, 8
A volunteer at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington has been charged with sexually abusing a boy in a special needs class, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Robert Sobczak, 19, of Hoffman Estates, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse on allegations he touched the boy inappropriately, according to the felony criminal complaint.
Sobczak was volunteering in the church's Special Friends program on Feb. 17 when he allegedly led the boy to an isolated area at the large evangelical church and fondled him, said Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.
Sobczak has denied the allegations, church officials said. He was arrested Friday and released Saturday on $10,000 cash bond.
There were no other allegations of abuse, according to Heather Larson, director of family services for the church.
"We are deeply saddened by this news," Larson said. "We're very concerned for the child as well as the family. … We take rigorous steps to protect our children."
Like all church volunteers, Sobczak underwent a thorough background check, Larson said, including a check of sex offender registries, interviews and references, before he was allowed to start volunteering in August of last year.
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