Substitute With Trail of Child Molestation Allegations Faces New Charge In Evergreen Park

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — A substitute teacher with a history of child sex abuse allegations has been charged with one count of battery after an investigation by Evergreen Park police.

Brett J. Smith, who was terminated from Queen of Martys School last week when parents brought concerns of Smith’s history to Evergreen Park police.

It was also learned that Smith had been accused of child molestation in other states and in Illinois, first reported by ABC-7 Chicago and Block Club Chicago.

Smith somehow defeated the Archdiocese of Chicago background and fingerprint check when he was hired as a long-term substitute at St. Walter-St. Benedict School in Blue Island, as well as other South Side Catholic schools, in the 2024-2025 school year.

Orland Park police said Smith turned himself in on Wednesday, where he was accused of molesting a tutoring student. He had since been charged with aggravated child sex abuse.

When the Queen of Martys parents shared information with them, Evergreen Park police began investigating another allegation made against Smith during the few weeks he was at the school as a substitute teacher. Smith has been charged with battery in the Evergreen Park case.

Smith will appear Friday on both cases at the Bridgeview Courthouse for a pre-detention hearing.