WESTCHESTER, Ill. – A suburban teacher has been arrested for sexually abusing one of her students nearly 25 years ago.
The Westchester Police Department said in June 2024, a victim told investigators that her teacher, 54-year-old Dawn Chester, sexually abused her while she was in the sixth and seventh grade at Westchester Middle School from 1998-2000.
Police immediately began an investigation and discovered Chester had resigned from Westchester Middle School in 2000 and has since been working within School District 87 in Berkeley, Illinois.
Westchester Middle School hired Chester in 1993, who was then Dawn Anderson and went by Dawn Lach at work. She was reportedly the victim’s teacher and coach at the time of the allegations, according to investigators.
Detectives said Chester started showing “personal interest” in the student and wrote her dozens of letters and notes, arranged time for them to be alone, and touched her in a sexual manner.
The Westchester Police Department then reached out to Berkeley school officials, who put Chester on administrative leave after learning of the investigation and allegations just prior to the start of the upcoming school year.
On Monday, Aug. 19, Westchester investigators took Chester into custody at her home without incident. She has since been charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim or with additional information is asked to call the Westchester Police Department at 708-345-0060 or email investigations@westchester-il.gov.