Former CPS dean pleads guilty to sexually abusing a student – ​​then retracts his statement in a dispute over sentence

A former dean of a Chicago public school pleaded guilty on Wednesday to sexually abusing a student – but retracted his confession shortly afterwards due to confusion about how long he would have to register as a sex offender.

Brian Crowder, 41, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault as part of an agreement with prosecutors. As part of that agreement, prosecutors dropped six other charges, including aggravated sexual assault, a Class X felony.

As part of the plea, Crowder would have had to undergo a test for sexually transmitted diseases and provide a blood sample to state police.

But when prosecutors announced that Crowder would have to register as a sex offender for life, they apparently came as a complete surprise to him and his lawyer.

After a recess, the attorney informed Judge Mary Anna Planey that they had assumed the registration period was only ten years and requested an adjournment of the case.

Planey overturned Crowder’s motion and a status hearing was scheduled for August 6.

A lawyer representing the woman, now 24, who accused Crowder of abuse said his client was disappointed by the delay. The abuse “has had a tremendous impact on her entire young adult life,” said attorney Martin Gould, who is representing her in a civil lawsuit against Crowder and CPS.

The young woman did not appear at the hearing on Wednesday, but Gould said she made a statement that would have been read during the hearing. Prosecutors said the woman agreed to the deal.

She was between the ages of 15 and 17 and a student at Greater Lawndale High School for Social Justice when the abuse occurred, prosecutors allege. Crowder was employed as a dean of students at the school when he allegedly began messaging her on social media.

At one point, Crowder gave her alcohol and then sexually abused her, prosecutors said. The abuse continued and the girl became pregnant in 2014.

Crowder took her for an abortion, posing as her stepfather to sign consent forms and pay for the procedure, prosecutors said. He allegedly did the same thing when she became pregnant again a year later.

She filed a complaint with Chicago police in 2021, after which Crowder was removed from office, prosecutors and school officials said.

Prosecutors had recommended probation for Crowder, but judges are not bound by such agreements and the Class 2 felony carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, prosecutors said in court.

Wednesday’s hearing was somewhat unusual in that both the deputy prosecutor and the judge stepped in for the day.

Crowder is scheduled to appear before Judge Stanley Sacks at his next hearing. Sacks has been assigned the case since Crowder was indicted in 2022.