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Chicago‑Area Softball Coach Surrenders on Charges of Sexually Abusing 12‑Year‑Old

Investigators will continue collecting evidence by asking parents to report any possible victims or suspicious conduct to Vernon Hills police

Overview

  • On Monday, Aug. 31, 54-year-old Eduardo “Eddie” Acosta‑Gonzalez surrendered to Vernon Hills police and was arrested on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
  • Court records show the charges stem from a 12‑year‑old’s report that Acosta‑Gonzalez improperly massaged her twice and made contact with her breast and groin while coaching her at a Vernon Hills sports facility.
  • The probe began after a referral from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and investigators say they are still gathering evidence ahead of the suspect’s first court appearance.
  • Police said officers initially could not locate Acosta‑Gonzalez after an arrest warrant was issued Aug. 21 and that he may have left the state; reports also note a prior misdemeanor battery conviction in his record.
  • Vernon Hills investigators urged parents of athletes he coached across the Chicago area to speak with their children and to report tips or concerns to the department’s investigations division.