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EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. (WLS) — Fresh allegations have surfaced against a former Catholic school teacher from the Chicago area who has already been embroiled in controversy.
Brett Smith, previously accused of sexual misconduct, now faces a lawsuit from a family claiming he groomed their second-grade son and touched him inappropriately just last month.
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The lawsuit, filed by the mother of a second grader at Queen of Martyrs School in Evergreen Park, contends that 43-year-old Brett Smith engaged in grooming behaviors and inappropriate contact with her young son.
Last week, following the Archdiocese of Chicago’s announcement of Smith’s dismissal as a substitute teacher at the school, Evergreen Park Police revealed charges of battery connected to his tenure there. It remains uncertain if these charges are linked to the newly filed lawsuit.
In addition to these allegations, Smith was charged by Orland Park Police last week with criminal sexual abuse involving a 9-year-old boy during private tutoring sessions.
In a statement, Smith’s attorney said, “This is a shakedown of the Archdiocese… The Archdiocese did nothing wrong, and Brett did nothing wrong.”
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Smith been charged multiple times with sexually abusing children, but he has only been convicted of battery.
His attorney added, “Brett has never been convicted of ever committing a sexually inappropriate touching of ANYONE in any case! Every time, prosecutors have concluded that the police responded first, when they should have conducted a more thorough investigation.”
The Archdiocese says it does not comment on litigation.
Smith was hired at Queen of Martys last month and began working for the Archdiocese in 2024 after the church said he passed a background check.
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