A 73-year-old Highland Park man has been sentenced to 24 months of probation for criminal sexual abuse and aggravated battery, both felonies, in connection with an incident involving a 15-year-old boy at a Northbrook fitness club in 2024.
Michael A. Tobin, of the 400 block of Ashland Place in Highland Park, pleaded guilty to the charges, both felonies, as part of a plea bargain on Feb. 17. The incident occurred at Life Time Fitness, 1100 Skokie Blvd., on July 6, 2024, Northbrook police said.
Northbrook police sent out a news release about the arrest on April 23.
Judge Paul Pavlus sentenced Tobin to 24 months of sex offender probation, said Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, in an email. As part of his sentence, Tobin must complete sex offender treatment, register as a sex offender for 10 years and pay various court fees, Simonton said.
Those fees total $1,604, according to Cook County Circuit Court records.
The investigation of Tobin began when the victim disclosed the abuse to his mother, who called 911, Northbrook police said. They did not release any details of the abuse incident.
Simonton said the state’s attorney’s office does not have a written proffer (a narrative of the events that occurred) in the case and referred all questions about the investigation to Northbrook police.
In a message posted on the Northbrook village website on April 23, police said sex offenses are often underreported.
“Northbrook Police are asking anyone who believes they or a family member may have been abused by Tobin to contact either the Northbrook Police Department at 847-564-2060 or their local law enforcement agency,” the post said.
The sentencing range for criminal sexual abuse in Illinois is probation or one to four years in prison, Simonton said. The sentencing range for aggravated battery in a public place is probation or two to five years in prison.
Northbrook police commented on why they sent out the news release on April 23, well after the Feb. 17 sentencing.
“We wanted to make sure he had time to appeal, normally 30 days,” said Deputy Chief Marc Fainman. “Additionally, it was out of courtesy to the (Cook County) State’s Attorney’s Office, and courtesy to the victim’s family.
“We wanted to get the message out to the community, and ask that if anyone else was possibly victimized, that they get in touch with us.”
Nicholas Glenn, the Northbrook village spokesperson, said no additional victims had come forward as of April 24.
