Crime & Safety
Chicago Military Academy Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting Student, 16
Anthony Frontera, 53, was fired by Chicago Public Schools on May 12 in the wake of allegations against the physics teacher.
CHICAGO, IL — A physics teacher at the Chicago Military Academy is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student multiple times since at least the beginning of the year, and Cook County prosecutors claim the instructor admitted to beating the victim with a yardstick during an argument earlier this month at the school in the Bronzeville neighborhood. Anthony Frontera, 53, of the 3800 block of North Ottawa Avenue, was charged with two counts of felony criminal sexual assault after he was arrested at around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, in the 100 block of Douglas Avenue in Elgin, according to Chicago police. His bail was set at $750,000 during a hearing Friday.
According to police, Frontera allegedly assaulted the girl multiple times between Jan. 1 and May 11. The attacks happened on campus, and Chicago Public Schools told the Chicago Sun-Times that Frontera was fired May 12 (his profile, however, is still on the school's website as of Friday afternoon). District officials also alerted police and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services about the allegations, and support is being provided to students at the academy, the report added. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Hyde Park and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)
During Frontera's hearing Friday, prosecutors claim school officials learned about the alleged sexual assaults after witnesses to an on-campus fight May 9 between the teacher and the student came forward the next day, DNAInfo.com reports. The physical altercation left the two with cuts and scratches, and Frontera allegedly admitted he hit the girl with a yardstick during the fight, the report added.
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Despite the sexual assault accusations, a Facebook page has been created offering support for Frontera. An explanation concerning the creation of the page does not mention the charges against Frontera, but it does ask for people to "help Mr. Frontera seek justice!" As of 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 26, the page had received more than 100 likes.
More via the Chicago Sun-Times and DNAInfo.com
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Anthony Frontera, 53 (photo via Chicago Police Department)
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