Chicago from www.suntimes.com – A southwest suburban mother of three and longtime secretary for the village of Chicago Ridge has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after admitting having sex with teenage boys who were friends of her daughter.
Cathleen Miller, 40, of Chicago Ridge, pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault. Miller’s mother and sister and the families of two of her victims were present in court.
Miller received three years each for three of the victims and one year for a fourth victim, all of whom were 14 or 15 at the time, said Andy Conklin, spokesman for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
A fifth victim also accused Miller, but prosecutors did not proceed with his case, according to Miller’s attorney, Robert Olson.
Prosecutors said Miller plied the teens with alcohol and marijuana and had sexual intercourse with two of them in her home in the 5800 block of 109th Street between February and June.
The sexual activity came to light after one of the boys wrote an apology on Facebook to Miller’s oldest daughter, who had walked in on Miller and him while they were together. His parents saw the message and went to police, Miller’s attorney said.
As police started asking questions, Miller checked herself into a hospital, considering suicide, and Miller’s sister took custody of her daughters, then ages 14, 10 and 3, Olson said.
Miller, who originally denied any wrongdoing, saying the boys brought alcohol and drugs to her home, was fired from her job and has been held at Cook County Jail since her July 13 arrest.
Her attorney said that at the time of her arrest, Miller had just separated from her husband, sought an order of protection against him and had consulted with an attorney about filing for divorce.
Miller’s children now live with their father in the family home, and a divorce is pending, Olson said.