Where Grooming Suspect Worked In Darien

DARIEN, IL – Darien School District 61 informed the public this week that the local man accused of exposing himself to a young girl through a social media app worked as a substitute for the district.

The allegations against James R. Wood, 35, who lives in the 7500 block of Farmingdale Drive, did not involve his work in the district, authorities said. He faces three felony counts of grooming.

In an email to Patch, Superintendent Robert Langman said Wood was a substitute from January to June. Wood worked primarily at Lace Elementary School, which serves third through fifth graders, Langman said.

Langman said the district has no reason to believe any incident involving Wood and a District 61 student occurred.

He said everyone who is hired to work in the district undergoes police and federal background checks, as well as a check with the state police's sex offender registry.

All the checks were conducted for Wood, who received a clear report to work in the schools, Langman said.

"With this new information, he will no longer be a substitute in our district," the superintendent said.

Patch published a story Tuesday about the allegations against Wood.