Two Evanston-Skokie School District 65 employees accused of acting together in the sexual abuse of two underage relatives have been indicted in Cook County court for criminal sexual assault and are expected to enter pleas later this month.
At a March 4 court appearance, Carlos Mendez, 51, a former assistant principal at Washington Elementary, and his partner, Maribel Flores-Hernandez, 34, a paraprofessional at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center, were formally indicted by a Cook County grand jury, with an arraignment date set for March 17.
Prosecutors at the hearing also made a request that Mendez and Flores-Hernandez submit their DNA to state police following the indictment.
Since their Feb. 5 arrest by Chicago police, both Mendez and Flores-Hernandez have remained in Cook County custody.
Flores-Hernandez’s attorney Juneitha Shambee said in a prior court hearing on Feb. 25 that she intended to file a motion for a pre-trial release on behalf of her client, but Mendez’s attorney David Gaegar said at the March 4 court appearance he had not filed the same motion for Mendez. Mendez was formerly represented by attorney John Curnyn.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Rivanda B. Doss ruled on Wednesday that continued detention is necessary for both defendants and ordered that they remain detained as the case proceeds.
According to Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office documents, Mendez was arrested and charged with one felony count of aggravated criminal sex abuse of a child and one misdemeanor count of domestic battery and bodily harm.
Flores-Hernandez was arrested on one felony count of sexual assault of a family member under 18. Both Mendez and Flores-Hernandez have arrest warrants out in the state of Florida on criminal charges for the sexual assault of a child.
Prosecutors allege Mendez and Flores-Hernandez sexually abused two underage family members together over a two-year period, with Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office documents alleging that Mendez abused an additional child. Neither Mendez nor Flores-Hernandez have a previous criminal record.
At its Feb. 23 Board meeting, the Evanston-Skokie District 65 School Board voted unanimously to approve the “suspension and dismissal of an administrator,” but failed to identify or name the employee in question.
Records obtained by the Pioneer Press through a Freedom of Information Act request to District 65 later confirmed the dismissed employee to be Mendez.
In a “Notice of Charges” letter addressed to Mendez and signed by District 65 Board President Pat Anderson and Secretary Adeela Qureshi, the Board determined Mendez engaged in “immoral, irremediable and cruel conduct” that damaged his “reputation as a teacher and administrator in the school community, damaged the reputation of the School District, and caused harm to the students of the School District.”
“You failed to conduct yourself in a manner that demonstrates good judgment and recognition of your role, authority and responsibility as a teacher,” the letter said. “You failed to serve as the role model required by Section 27-12 of the Illinois School Code.”
The document also states that “on or about” Oct. 28, 2025, the district received a Notification of a Suspected Child Abuse and/or Neglect concerning Mendez from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
In the notice, DCFS acknowledged that it had received a report of suspected abuse and/or neglect of a minor and that the allegations included “substantial risk of sexual abuse.” On the same day as District 65 received the notification, the District placed Mendez on leave with pay.
On Dec. 23, 2025, DCFS later found “sufficient evidence to issue indicated findings of abuse” against Mendez based on the allegations.
DCFS then notified Mendez’s former attorney of the findings, but said Mendez “failed to notify the District of the issuance by DCFS of indicated findings for sexual exploitation and substantial risk of sexual abuse,” with the District later contacting DCFS in February to receive an update on the status of the investigation.
“In the opinion of the Board of Education, you are not qualified to serve as a teacher and administrator in this District, and the interests of the School District require your dismissal as a result,” the letter said.
According to District 65 Spokesperson Hannah Dillow, Flores-Hernandez has been on leave since Jan. 16. Mendez, on leave since Oct. 28, had been an employee of the District since 2011.
Dillow did not return a request for comment regarding Flores-Hernandez’s employment status with the District or her ongoing DCFS investigation.
Section 24-12 of the Illinois School Code allows Mendez to request a hearing before an officer of the Illinois State Board of Education to review the decision, but the request must be made within 17 days of the Board’s termination letter, which was dated Feb. 23.
Mendez and Flores-Hernandez are expected to appear back at Cook County’s George N. Leighton Criminal Court House in Chicago on March 17 for their arraignment and reading of charges.
