High School Soccer Coach Accused Of Sexual Acts With 3 Boys

VERNON HILLS, IL — An assistant soccer coach at Vernon Hills High School is accused of involvement in "unlawful sexual acts" with at least three current students over the course of more than a year, police said. Police learned about the allegations from school administrators Thursday evening, before interviewing and arresting the coach that night.

Cori Beard, 28, of the 300 block of Farmington Lane in Vernon Hills, has been charged with 12 counts of criminal sexual assault of a victim between 13 and 17, according to court records.

Police said Beard has been working for District 128 since 2013, and she is presently employed as a part-time assistant coach for both the girls and boys soccer teams at VHHS. They did not disclose whether the victims were soccer players.

The school administration immediately took steps to prevent any further contact between Beard and any students or staff as soon as they learned of the investigation, according to Deputy Chief Patrick Zimmerman.

Detectives learned Beard had engaged in at least a dozen acts of illegal sexual activity between December 2016 and last month with at least three boys who currently attend the school, he said.

School administrators have activated a crisis team and will immediately make counselors available to students and staff, according to police.

"First and foremost, our concern is for the well being of the children in this community," Zimmerman said.

Beard is being held at Lake County Jail in lieu of 10 percent of a $1 million bail. She is set to next appear in court on March 13 on a bond review hearing, according to court records.

Zimmerman said the investigation is ongoing.

"We encourage anyone that has information to bring it forward to the police department, and certainly if they're not comfortable with that we'd encourage them to reach out to a teacher, to a school staff member or you can even have an advocate bring information on your behalf to us."