Mundelein Teacher, Volleyball Coach Charged With Secretly Recording Student

MUNDELEIN, Ill. — A Mundelein middle school teacher who also served as the girls junior varsity volleyball coach at Mundelein High School has been arrested and charged after authorities say he secretly recorded a juvenile student. Police say evidence recovered from his cellphone corroborated the student’s initial report. 

Dagoberto Diaz, 48, of Mundelein, was arrested Tuesday and charged with one felony count of unauthorized video recording of a juvenile. Diaz worked as a teacher at Carl Sandburg Middle School and coached junior varsity volleyball at Mundelein High School. 

The investigation began August 18 after Mundelein School Districts 75 and 120 notified police about an incident reported by a student. According to police, the student said Diaz brought her into a room to perform stretching and jumping exercises. During the exercises, she noticed him holding a cellphone and saw a flash, leading her to believe he was photographing or recording her. She immediately reported what happened to school staff, who contacted authorities. 

Police say phone contained additional images and videos

Detectives seized Diaz’s cellphone and obtained a search warrant to examine it. Police said a forensic analysis uncovered several images and videos that corroborated the student’s suspicions. 

During Diaz’s initial court appearance Wednesday, Lake County prosecutors alleged that the case involved upskirt images of multiple minor victims. An arrest warrant alleged Diaz knowingly made a recording through the clothing of a child under 18 without the child’s consent. Authorities have not publicly established the total number of alleged victims, and it remains unclear whether additional charges will be filed. 

Police executed a search warrant Tuesday at Diaz’s home in the 100 block of West Courtland Street before taking him into custody at a family member’s residence in Mundelein. 

District pursuing termination

Superintendent Dr. Corey Tafoya said Diaz was placed on administrative leave the same day the alleged conduct was reported and has not been permitted to interact with students or enter school property since then. The district is now taking steps to terminate his employment. 

Tafoya said administrators immediately contacted both law enforcement and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services after receiving the student’s report. He praised the students who came forward and said the districts remain committed to ensuring schools are safe environments for students. 

Diaz was released from custody following his first court appearance Wednesday with pretrial conditions. According to court reporting, those conditions include restrictions on contact with minors and school-related locations. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 26. 

The allegations remain pending in court, and Diaz has not been convicted of the charge.

Mundelein police are asking anyone with additional information related to the investigation to contact the department at 847-968-4600. 

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