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Jury Begins Deliberations in Trial of Former CPS Dean Accused of Student Abuse

Jurors have begun deliberating on felony charges accusing Brian Crowder of grooming a minor student under his authority.

People enter and exit Little Village Lawndale High School, April 11, 2024, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
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Brian Crowder gets in a vehicle after leaving the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago, July 1, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
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Overview

  • After closing arguments Wednesday, jurors began deliberating Crowder’s multiple felony sex charges.
  • The 43-year-old former dean rejected a plea deal requiring sex-offender registration and up to six years in prison and now faces seven counts, including two aggravated sexual assault charges.
  • The victim testified that Crowder groomed her via Snapchat when she was 15, coerced two abortions by posing as her stepfather and manipulated her emotionally.
  • Prosecutors describe his authority as dean of discipline as an aggravating factor while defense attorneys have challenged the victim’s credibility and alleged extortion efforts.
  • Crowder’s case has intensified scrutiny of Chicago Public Schools’ response to staff misconduct following a 2018 Tribune investigation and a 2024 lawsuit, and CPS records show he was removed in 2021.