West Aurora Band Director Charged With Sexually Abusing Students

A West Aurora High School band director has been charged with three counts of criminal sexual assault and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office said Friday.

Stephen P. Orland, 42, of the 2700 block of Bauer Road in North Aurora, is accused of having sexual contact on multiple occasions with two students, prosecutors said. The contact began after Aug. 1, 2010, and the victims were younger than 18 during some of the instances alleged, prosecutors said.

Orland surrendered to Aurora police on Friday, according to prosecutors, and posted $10,000 bond. His court date is set for June 2.

Orland has been with the West Aurora School District for 19 years. District officials confirmed earlier this week that Orland had been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation. The charges accuse Orland of abusing “his position of trust and authority.”

In a written statement, school district spokesman Mike Chapin said the investigation began at the school.

“When the school district became aware of certain information regarding Steve Orland, it immediately undertook an appropriate investigation and thereafter informed law enforcement agencies, with which it has since been cooperating,” Chapin wrote. “Because of the pending action, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time.”

All seven of Orland’s charges are felonies. If he is convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison, prosecutors said, and would have to register as a sex offender.

Aurora police have asked anyone with information in this case to contact them at 630-256-5500.