3 New Cases Filed Against Lemont Counselor Accused of Sex Assault

LEMONT, IL -- A Christian counselor at a faith-based women’s residential treatment facility in Lemont is facing new charges, where he is already accused of sexually assaulting two other patients. Three new cases were filed Tuesday against Michael Jacksa, 40, on multiple felony counts of criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse “by use of force or threat of force,” according to court records.

Jacksa, of Joliet, had been employed as a counselor at Timberline Knolls in Lemont, which treats women for eating disorders, substance abuse, self injury and recovery from sexual abuse.

Among the allegations in the new cases, Jacksa is said to have engaged in inappropriate touching, oral sex and sexual intercourse with the women during multiple one-on-one counseling sessions. The separate incidents all occurred between December 2017 and June 2018. The women did not give Jacksa their consent, court records said.

Jacksa was also charged Tuesday with misdemeanor battery, where he is accused of stroking another patient’s leg and groin area during her treatment.

Following the initial charges made against Jacksa on Aug. 20, prosecutors said that Lemont detectives made contact with six other former Timberline Knolls patients, who stated that Jacksa was "sexually inappropriate" with them during therapy sessions. According to the women, they claim that Jacksa set back their therapeutic treatment. At the time of his first arrest, Jacksa allegedly told that Lemont detectives that he “probably went too far."

Timberline Knolls is well regarded for its eating disorder treatment program. Disney star Demi Lovato speaks frequently of her treatment at the Lemont facility for cutting, bulimia and anorexia.

Many of the women who’ve accused Jacksa of sexually assaulting and abusing them reside out of state. Most were surprised to learn that other former patients had made the same claims. The women have since formed a sort of sisterhood where they have shared their stories in a private Facebook group, according to a former patient of the facility.

“What sold me was that it was faith-based,” the woman said, who was treated for an eating disorder. “That’s why a lot of us chose [Timberline]. I felt that Christianity was important in my treatment.”

Although this woman did not cross paths with Jacksa during her treatment earlier this year, she has supported others in coming forward. She described Jacksa then as a “nicely dressed, good- looking Christian dude” who discussed “Christianity and sports” with the various women under his care.

“Now that I can logically think about it, just being at a residential facility we were all vulnerable,” the woman added.

Before his arrest, Jacksa, a married father of two, had no prior criminal background. His last known address is in the 3800 block of Cherry Tree Court in Joliet. The Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation suspended his state license on Aug. 30 “due to failure to comply with the terms of an Order Requiring Presence of Chaperone During Patient Encounters.”

Jacksa is being held without bail at the Cook County Jail. His bail had originally been set at $1 million following his bond hearing on Aug. 21, for which he put up 10 percent. Bond was revoked days later when a second woman came forward after seeing news reports. Jacksa is due back in court Dec. 18 before Judge Colleen Hyland in Bridgeview.