ETHS Employee Charged With Child Seduction At Indiana School

EVANSTON, IL — Police said a former marching band color guard coach at Evanston Township High School sexually abused a girl at a Northwest Indiana high school during a period he was also working in Evanston.

Lorenzo Medrano, 63, was arrested last month and charged with child seduction in La Porte County, according to court records.

Medrano is accused of groping a 16-year-old La Porte High School student repeatedly, starting in 2019 and continuing five to six times a week until his firing in March 2020, according to an affidavit that convinced a judge there was probable cause to arrest him. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After turning 18, the student reported the abuse to La Porte police in July, telling investigators she was unsure if anyone else on the squad had been fondled by Medrano, Det. Jared Schaefer alleged in the affidavit.

"I asked her if she knew why he was fired and she stated that she did not," Schaefer said. "She informed me that everyone else was devastated when they found out he was fired but she expressed she was relieved."

The detective said he interviewed four other students who had been coached by Medrano at La Porte High School who provided corroborating accounts, including that the coach was "extremely flirtatious and would constantly tell students how beautiful they were," sometimes appearing visibly aroused in class.

During the three years prior to the pandemic, Medrano was paid about $24,000 for his work as a part-time Evanston Township High School District 202 employee, according to district records. It could not be immediately determined when Medrano began or stopped working for ETHS.

ETHS spokespeople did not respond Monday or Tuesday to questions regarding Medrano's role at the district, including whether he was ever disciplined for inappropriate conduct involving students or whether the district ever received any complaints regarding his conduct.

Medrano denied the allegations, telling Patch there is always someone present with him when he teaches and referring questions about his time at ETHS to his attorney.

"These are pending charges, this is not a fact," Medrano said. "None of this actually happened."

According to Medrano's website, he has for many years taught championship bands, winter guard and drum corps, offering services include choreography, flag and costume design.

Under Indiana criminal code, the offense of child seduction is approximately equivalent to class 4 felony child sexual abuse under Illinois law.

Medrano's arrest was first reported by WSBT-TV, and his employment in Evanston was first revealed by Evanston Now.

Medrano is out on bail awaiting trial after posting a $750 cash bond on Sept. 15 following his arrest, according to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office. Medrano is due back in Northwest Indiana for a court hearing on Dec. 8.

District 202 representatives are poised to settle another case of an ETHS employee accused of sexual misconduct involving students.

Court records show the district, a former student and her parent have agreed to an out-of-court resolution to end a federal civil rights suit against the district, its administrators and a pair of former security guards.

That case was first docketed in August 2019, and an amended complaint was filed in April. The terms of the settlement, which will need to be approved by the District 202 board in open session, have yet to be publicly revealed.

UPDATE: Arrested Coach Faced Complaints But Cleared Of Wrongdoing At ETHS