Coach wanted for sex abuse of 12-year-old softball player may have left state: Vernon Hills police
Witness statements suggest Eddie Acosta may have acted inappropriately with other underage athletes, police said.
VERNON HILLS, Ill. (WLS) -- North suburban police are searching for a coach accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old softball player.
Vernon Hills police said 54-year-old Hoffman Estates man Eduardo "Eddie" Acosta-Gonzalez is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison for each count.
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Based on a referral from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, police investigated Eddie Acosta's conduct while he served as the child's softball hitting coach at a Vernon Hills sports performance center where he had rented space.
Police said their efforts to find and arrest Acosta have been unsuccessful, and he may have left the state. Known youth programs affiliated with Acosta were notified about the investigation, but whether he continues to have access to juvenile athletes was not immediately clear.
"This investigation remains very much active," Vernon Hills Deputy Chief Shannon Holubetz said.
Holubetz said there were two incidents earlier this spring and summer. Acosta allegedly massaged the young girl and touched her chest and groin.
"We are extraordinarily grateful for this victim coming forward. It's hard enough for the average person to do, let alone a child," Holubetz said.
A warrant for Acosta's arrest was issued last Friday.
"We are actively working on several leads right now and working to get him taken into custody," Holubetz said.
The parking lot at Gorilla Baseball Academy was nearly empty on Friday. Owner Jason Dolenga confirmed he is aware of the investigation and said he learned of it last week.
"I revoked [Acosta's] access to the building that same day," Dolenga wrote in a statement to ABC7. "[Acosta] has no ongoing role with Gorilla Baseball Academy or Gorilla Baseball Club and will not return."
Dolenga characterized Acosta as "an outside instructor who rented space."
"Any time an adult uses a position of trust or authority to cultivate an inappropriate relationship, it's a matter of grave concern to us," Holubetz said.
Witness statements also suggest Acosta may have acted inappropriately with other underage athletes, police said. He is believed to have offered private coaching throughout the Chicago area, but he was known to train and coach most recently in Vernon Hills and Wauconda.
Police encouraged parents of athletes trained by Acosta to speak with their children and report suspicious conduct to police. Vernon Hills police asked anyone with information to contact the Investigations Division at 847-918-5605 or via email at pdtips@vhills.org.
"[If] you feel as though anything inappropriate or illegal happened, we want to hear from you," Holubetz said. "We have investigators standing by. You will be heard."
