Bail Set at $200K for Blue Island Cop Accused in Child Sex Case

John Miller |Cook County Sheriff

Bail for a Blue Island police officer accused of sexually assaulting a girl under age 13 was set at $200,000 during a bond hearing in Markham.

John Miller, 51, was charged with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault with a minor. He was arrested by Cook County sheriff’s police on Nov. 18 after a week-long investigation.

• Blue Island Cop Charged With Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of Child

Miller’s bond hearing was moved from Bridgeview to Markham before Judge Marjorie Laws on Friday, after his attorney cited statutes that cases be heard in the court jurisdiction where the alleged incidents took place.

Prosecutors said the assaults in Miller’s case reportedly took place in Blue Island. Cook County sheriff’s police wanted the case moved from the Sixth Municipal District in Markham -- where Blue Island criminal cases are heard -- the Fifth Municipal District in Bridgeview “to eliminate impropriety.”

“I don’t think law enforcement be making decisions where cases are heard,” argued John Ennis, one of Miller’s attorneys.

Judge Raymond Jagielski told Ennis that case would probably end up being sent back to Bridgeview.

The Blue Island Police Department said in a news release that it had only recently learned of the allegations and turned the matter over to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation.

Cook County sheriff’s police acknowledged that they began their investigation last week after someone went to the Blue Island police station and accused the veteran cop of sex crimes.

Blue Island police said in a news release that Miller has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome “of these very serious charges against him.”

Miller has been with the Blue Island Police Department since 2000. He’s due back in court Monday in Bridgeview.