Jeremy Hylka Faces Another Setback: All 5 Charges Will Stand

JOLIET, IL — Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary since Diocese of Joliet school teacher Jeremy Hylka was captured on video, running away from the Joliet McDonald's restaurant on West Jefferson Street. On April 27, 2021, Hylka visited the McDonald's expecting to meet up with a teenage boy for the purposes of sexual gratification, according to Will County prosecutors.

After the video of Hylka was posted on social media, Joliet police opened a criminal investigation, leading to the filing of five criminal charges. The Diocese of Joliet got rid of Hylka as a teacher. After several years of teaching at Joliet Catholic Academy, Hylka was in his first school year teaching in Lockport at the St. Joseph Grade School.

In recent days, Will County Judge Ken Zelazo dealt another setback to Hylka. Zelazo rejected a motion from Plainfield criminal defense lawyer John Paul Ivec asking the judge to dismiss one of the five criminal charges brought against his client.

Hylka and his client have been in no hurry to have Hylka's case go to a trial. Ivec has not asked the judge to set a trial date, yet. At this point, it's unlikely Hylka will have a trial in 2022.

Here's a recap of the key developments in the traveling to meet a minor criminal case against the former long Diocese of Joliet teacher and founder of the Joliet Weather Center:

April 28, 2021

Jeremy Hylka Ousted From 3 Diocese of Joliet Positions

The Diocese of Joliet issued a statement announcing that Jeremy Hylka would not be returning to his positions at St. Joseph Catholic School in Lockport, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, both in Joliet.

"The Diocese of Joliet received information from various sources concerning alleged inappropriate communications with a purported minor," director of communications Mary Massingale told Joliet Patch.

April 29, 2021

Jeremy Hylka Criminal Charges Announced by Joliet Police

The Joliet Police Department issued a news release announcing that criminal charges were being filed against Jeremy Hylka on charges of traveling to meet a child and grooming. Bail was set at $100,000. "After further investigation by Joliet Police Detectives, the Will County State's Attorney Office has reviewed charges and a Will County Judge has issued an arrest warrant for Jeremy M. Hylka in the amount of $100,000 for the charges of Traveling to Meet a Child and Grooming. Thank you for the public's assistance," Joliet police said.

April 30, 2021

Jeremy Hylka Remains In Hospital, Joliet Police Await His Arrest

Joliet police held a news conference to discuss their criminal investigation of Hylka, who was charged with traveling to meet a child, as well as grooming. "Our cooperating witness posed as a 15-year-old, but is actually 19 years old," long-time Joliet Police Detective Shawn Filipiak told reporters. Because Hylka believed the teenager he was meeting up with was 15, "the statutory requirement is met" for criminal prosecution, Filipiak explained.

May 4, 2021

Diocese: Jeremy Hylka 'Was Vetted Like Any Other Candidate'

Administrators from St. Joseph Catholic School and leaders of the Diocese of Joliet held a meeting in Lockport open to parents who have children attending the school where Hylka had been employed until the previous week. The principal of St. Joseph School was Lynne Scheffler, and the priest in charge of the parish was Father Gregory Rothfuchs.

May 11, 2021

Jeremy Hylka Arrested By Joliet Police On 2 Felony Charges

For nearly two weeks, Hylka had remained under psychiatric care at the Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital in New Lenox. Court records at the Will County Courthouse indicate that Hylka was threatening to take his own life. Hylka brought along enough cash, $10,000, to make sure that he would not have to spend one night in the Will County Jail. His bail was set at $100,000 the previous month, which meant he could go free after posting 10 percent.

May 13, 2021

Did Jeremy Hylka Abuse You? Law Firm Runs Ads Seeking Victims

The Chicago-based Pintas & Mullins Law Firm was running paid advertisements on Facebook seeking to represent victims of Joliet criminal defendant Jeremy Hylka, who had been fired from his teaching position with the Diocese of Joliet. That week, the 44-year-old New Lenox resident posted 10 percent of his $100,000 bail to avoid going to the Will County Jail on two felony charges: grooming and traveling to meet a minor.

June 24, 2021

Jeremy Hylka Makes 1st Criminal Court Appearance

Besides wearing a facial mask into the courtroom, Hylka wore tan slacks, a tie and a long-sleeve, navy-colored, buttoned shirt for his appearance in front of Will County Circuit Judge Dave Carlson. Hylka had hired Plainfield criminal defense lawyer JohnPaul Ivec to represent him.

Oct. 21, 2021

Jeremy Hylka Can't Use Social Media Anymore: Judge

Will County judge Ken Zelazo modified the bond conditions for 44-year-old New Lenox resident Jeremy Hylka so that the former Joliet Catholic Academy teacher cannot access social media websites or applications while his five felony charges were awaiting trial.

Zelazo also notified Hylka he was to have no unsupervised contact with any children, excluding his own.