Wauconda Firefighter Charged With Child Sex Abuse
LAKEMOOR, Ill. (CBS) -- A Wauconda firefighter-paramedic has been charged with sexually abusing a child.
According to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, 41-year old Donald Berthiaume was arrested Wednesday on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Berthiaume is alleged to have had "inappropriate sexual contact" in 2005 with a girl who was under the age of 13.
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The allegations were first reported to the Lakemoor Police Department which asked the Lake County Sheriff's Office for help in investigating the incident.
Berthiaume is free on $50,000 bond.
Wauconda Fire Chief David Dato told Newsradio the Wauconda Fire District is "troubled" by the allegations, and that Berthiaume has been placed on paid administrative leave pending further review of the case.
Dato said Berthiaume has been with the fire district full time since August 2003, but had been part time for a few years before that for a total of 13 years.
Dato said, to his knowledge, none of the allegations occurred while Berthiaume was on duty.
