Andrew Castro pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including predatory criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and child exploitation.
Castro, who worked at Federico Lora Elementary, built inappropriate relationships with three male victims over several years, according to prosecutors. His grooming tactics included attending their sporting events, taking them to malls and movies, and inviting them into his home, where the abuse occurred.
In a related civil case, the Chicago Public Schools reached a $2 million settlement with the families last year.
“While we are happy there has been another significant step toward resolution in this case, there is still a long road of recovery for the abused in this case,” said Larry Disparti, founder of Disparti Law Group, which represented the victims.
Disparti also highlighted broader concerns about abuse in the school system, noting that the Chicago Public Schools Office of the Inspector General Sexual Allegations Unit (SAU) has handled over 2,000 cases since its inception. In its February 2024 report, the SAU documented a 12% rise in abuse reports.
“It is not acceptable that there is a single case of sexual abuse in our school system,” Disparti said. “Our children deserve better.”
