Lake County Jail Inmate Charged Over Sexual Assault Allegation

WAUKEGAN, IL — A detainee at Lake County jail was charged with a felony Friday for falsely accusing a corrections officer of sexual assault last month, according to the Lake County sheriff's office. Sheriff's detectives investigating the claim found that surveillance video contradicted the allegation from the inmate, who admitted making the false claim because she "didn't care for" the guards, Sgt. Chris Covelli said.

Theresa M. Guzman, 36, of the 3300 block of Judy Lane in Park City, has been jailed in Waukegan since March 30 on charges of residential burglary, destroying evidence and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in connection with an incident in Waukegan five days earlier, according to court records. She was charged with an additional felony count of disorderly conduct — making a false report to police on July 6 following an investigation into an allegation against jail staff.

One of Guzman's family members placed a call on June 21 to a correctional officer to report that she had described been groped in her groin by a female guard during a pat-down, Covelli said. The alleged incident took place in the jail library as Guzman was leaving. She provided a recorded statement to investigators saying the correction officer had inappropriately touched her groin area.

Sheriff's detectives obtained a surveillance video from the time in question, which captured the entire encounter between Guzman and the guard, according to Covelli. The recording shows that the corrections officer "at no time make contact with Guzman's groin area," he said in a release.

Covelli said Guzman admitted to lying about the alleged sexual assault when she was interviewed by investigators a second time.

Sheriff Mark Curran said his staff followed Prison Rape Elimination Act protocols and immediately notified trained investigators once information regarding a possible sexual assault was received.

“Being a correctional officer is arguably one of the hardest jobs in society. They often face verbal abuse, physical abuse, and false allegations," Curran said. "Our correctional officers are held to a high standard of accountability and we will pursue charges against anyone who assaults them or makes false allegations against them.”

A judge set Guzman's bail on her newest charge at $100,000, and she is due back in court Thursday in Waukegan. According to court records, she will have an opportunity to enter a plea and a judge will consider how to proceed with other charges of burglary, theft and gun crimes.