Jeremy Hylka turns himself into Joliet police, released from custody

Jeremy Hylka was arrested and released from custody Tuesday morning after he was charged almost two weeks ago with traveling to meet a minor and grooming.

About 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, police detectives were notified the fired Catholic school teacher would be released from Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital in New Lenox, Joliet police said in a statement.

“Detectives traveled to Silver Oaks Hospital in New Lenox and placed Hylka into custody without incident,” police said.

Hylka was taken to the Joliet Police Department, where he was booked and then released after posting cash bond.

On April 29, police officials said a judge signed a warrant for Hylka’s arrest that carried a $100,000 bond. He needed to post 10% of that amount for his release from custody.

Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English said he was not prepared to disclose how the bond was provided. Hylka’s attorney, JohnPaul Ivec, also would not disclose who posted his client’s bond.

“I’m not making any statements on the case,” Ivec said.

Hylka is scheduled to appear at the Will County Courthouse June 24.

Hylka’s criminal case remained sealed as of Tuesday afternoon. Will County State’s Attorney spokeswoman Carole Cheney failed to respond when asked when the seal would be lifted.

Cheney previously told The Herald-News that a judge would be needed to remove the seal and that when the case is in court for the first time, the seal would be released.

Cheney referred questions on the conditions of Hylka’s bond to the Joliet police. English said he was told there were no specific conditions of Hylka’s bond as of Tuesday.

“Any conditions placed upon Mr. Hylka’s bond would have to be levied by the court,” English said.

Hylka’s arrest and quick release from custody ended an almost two-week period where he stayed at Silver Oaks while a warrant was pending for his arrest.

On April 30, Hylka’s wife filed for divorce and petitioned for a protective order against him that claimed he “made threats of suicide” and that he was staying at Silver Oaks.

Judge Donald DeWilkins granted the protective order “for good cause” and scheduled a hearing for May 28 to decide whether the time period for the order should be extended.

The protective order prohibits Hylka from going near his wife, their three children and their residence until May 28.

Hylka’s charges and arrest were the result of an investigation by Joliet police detectives, who received a Snapchat video from the group Save Our Siblings that apparently captured Hylka attempting to rendezvous with someone he thought was a 15-year-old boy on April 27 at a Joliet McDonald’s, police said.

“All the videos and text messages from the Snapchat account were vetted for validity and recovered from the account,” Joliet police Lt. Joe Egizio said at a press briefing on April 30. “Detective (Shawn) Filipiak also was able to establish positive ID of the suspect in the case, that being Jeremy M. Hylka.”

Hylka was a teacher at Joliet Catholic Academy until the school’s administration “was made aware of online allegations” regarding Hylka on June 2, 2020, according to a statement from JCA.

JCA officials said they informed the Joliet police of the allegations and worked with the Diocese of Joliet “regarding the police investigation.” Hylka was put on leave and then resigned from JCA.

When asked about the June incident on April 30, Joliet police detective Shawn Filipiak said what the police were “able to determine was that there were third-party, unsubstantiated claims with unknown victims at that time” and charges were never filed.

Hylka was later hired to work as a teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Lockport.

The Diocese of Joliet disclosed last Friday that Hylka did not fulfill employment requirements while teaching at St. Joseph’s. Lynne Scheffler, the school’s principal, has been placed on administrative leave while diocese officials are currently examining “the circumstances regarding Hylka’s employment.”

Diocese officials also recently disclosed that Hylka was investigated in January 2021 when officials became aware of a TikTok video referencing a man who was propositioned or groomed by an unnamed teacher.

They said the investigation was not disclosed to parents at the time because it was a “confidential personnel matter” and because the account in the TikTok video could not be “clearly linked to Hylka.”

Diocese of Joliet spokeswoman Mary Massingale said the diocese reported the TikTok video incident to the Joliet Police Department.