Former Lockport teacher accused of child grooming turns himself in to police
JOLIET, Ill. - A former suburban Catholic school teacher accused of traveling to meet a child has turned himself in, according to police.
Jeremy M. Hylka, 44, was arrested by Joliet police on Tuesday at Silver Oaks Hospital in New Lenox, according to Sgt. Dwayne English.
According to Joliet Police, Hylka has been charged with one count of traveling to meet a child and one count of grooming. Both are felonies. Hylka is currently out on $10,000 cash bond.
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Police say at about 6:30 Tuesday morning, Hylka's attorney notified them that Hylka would be released from Silver Oaks Hospital that day. Detectives went there and took him into custody. The reason for his hospital stay is still unknown at this time.
Hylka was a science and religion teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Lockport. He had also been in charge of the school's Twitter and Instagram pages, and he shared oversight of the school's Facebook page.
A warrant was out for his arrest after video surfaced of an encounter police say he had with a 19-year-old man posing as a minor.
Court documents show that Hylka's wife recently filed for divorce and was granted an order of protection.
On May 7, The Diocese of Joliet released a statement saying that Hylka did not fulfill employment requirements to teach full-time at St. Joseph Catholic School. The school's principal was placed on administrative leave while the circumstances surrounding his employment are examined.
Hylka is scheduled to be in court on June 24 at 9 a.m. at the Will County Courthouse.