May 9, 2007

Naperville soccer coach charged with sexual assault, abuse

Contact: Charles B. Pelkie
(815) 727-8789
cpelkie@willcountyillinois.com

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a 36-year-old Oswego man has been charged for allegedly sexually abusing a teen-ager who was on the soccer team he coached.

Gustavo D. Nicosia, 36, of 537 Litchfield, Oswego, appeared in court on Wednesday (May 9, 2007). He has been charged with five counts of criminal sexual assault, seven counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and two counts of obstructing justice.

Criminal sexual assault is a Class 1 felony that carries a penalty of 4-15 years in prison upon conviction. Aggravated criminal sexual abuse is a Class 2 felony that carries a penalty of 3-7 years upon conviction. Obstructing justice is a Class 4 felony that carries a penalty of 1-3 years upon conviction.

Nicosia was being held Wednesday in the Will County Jail on $500,000 bond. He must post $50,000 to secure his release while the charges are pending.

The victim in the charges was 15-years-old and a member of an America’s Soccer Club team that Nicosia was coaching when the alleged sexual abuse began. The girl currently is 18-years-old. The criminal sexual assault charges allege Nicosia held “a position of trust, authority or supervision in relation to the victim.”

“My prosecutors work aggressively with local police departments when allegations surface that a minor has been sexually abused, especially when the alleged offender holds a position of trust over the victim,” Glasgow said. “The security of our children is paramount.”

The charges are the result of an eight-month investigation by the Naperville Police Department and the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The investigation into Nicosia began in August 2006 when the Department of Children and Family Services reported that a 19-year-old Naperville female had disclosed to her church youth minister that she had been sexually abused by her soccer coach while she was a juvenile. Charges have not been filed in connection with those allegations. That case remains under investigation.

Naperville Police and the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office broadened their investigation when allegations surfaced that another girl had been sexually abused by Nicosia. That girl, who is the victim in the 14 charges filed against Nicosia this week, is currently 18-years-old.

Nicosia coached the victim in this case while he was employed by the Galaxy Soccer Club and America’s Soccer Club, both located in Naperville. In addition, the Web site www.napervillesoccer.org lists Nicosia as coaching for the Naperville Lightning Soccer Club, and the Web site www.face2facesoccer.com lists Gustavo as a youth director. None of the charges filed this week contain allegations that the alleged sexual abuse occurred while he was coaching at the Galaxy Soccer Club.

Nicosia was arrested by Naperville Police Tuesday at 1:35 p.m. at Aztech Locknut Company in Aurora and later transported to the Will County Jail in Joliet.

Anyone who may have information regarding allegations of sexual abuse related to this case is asked to contact Naperville Police Investigator Chuck Baker at (630) 305-5919.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office reminds the public that a charge is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.