Hector Coz, a former Chicago Park District lifeguard supervisor, has entered a guilty plea to charges of sexually abusing a teenage employee. This admission is linked to an incident from 2018 at a public pool in Jefferson Park. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Coz, who was 22 at the time of the crime, received a sentence of two years of probation and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
The case, brought to light by WBEZ three years prior, led to a larger scandal and subsequent resignations of the park district’s CEO and board president in 2021. Coz, now 28, accepted responsibility for his actions; his lawyer stated in court that Coz hopes to better understand his relationship to women through mandatory sex offender education. "He is the bad man we warn our children about," the survivor wrote in a statement that was read during the sentencing, expressing her belief that her punishment was lenient compared to the gravity of the crimes committed.
Another victim shared her experience during the hearing, although charges could not be pressed against Coz due to the expired statute of limitations. She expressed regret for not coming forward sooner, fearing a lack of support and potential retribution. Both survivors' statements highlight the trauma and systemic barriers faced by those seeking justice in such cases.
Further details regarding Coz's criminal activities indicate that he forcibly assaulted the 17-year-old at the Jefferson Park pool by restraining her and performing non-consensual acts. These charges were reported by CBS News Chicago, with Mauricio Ramirez, another former lifeguard supervisor, facing similar allegations. The reach of this scandal has seen numerous disciplinary actions, including the suspensions, terminations, and resignations of various district employees.
While Coz has been placed on a "do not rehire" list and appears on the state's sex offender registry, the case's closure does not mitigate the lasting effects on survivors. The Chicago Park District, affirming its commitment to safe and respectful environments, supports the legal processes in holding perpetrators accountable.
