Teacher, coach charged with sexual abuse of a 17-year-old

ROCKFORD - Parents are in shock after a former girls basketball coach at Belvidere High School is accused of sexually abusing one of her former players during the 2008 - 2009 school year.

27-year-old Darcee Baney is a former Harlem High School basketball star who also played basketball in college.

Police say the abuse took place during Baney's first year as a teacher at Harlem Middle School, while she was also coaching varsity girls basketball at Belvidere High School.

"It's very disturbing and makes me worry about the safety of my son," said Amy Garuitt, who has a child that is in 7^th grade at Harlem Middle School.

Parents waiting to pick up their kids outside Harlem Middle School in Loves Park on Tuesday couldn't believe Baney, a 7th grade science teacher of 5 years and a girls basketball coach is being accused of sexually abusing one of her former players.

"The people who do this are beyond help," said Darryl Vincent, who was waiting to pick up his child from Harlem Middle School.  "Just not teaching, but coaching, and in the community, that's wrong, come on!"

Darcee Baney is charged with sexually abusing a 17-year-old between November 1st 2008 and March 31st 2009, and now faces 10 counts of criminal sexual abuse.

"All charges that stem from our investigation all occurred within the city of Rockford," said Rockford police lieutenant Marc Welsh.

Police say none of the allege sexual encounters took place at a school.

Harlem School District superintendent Julie Morris says the district is doing everything it can to help in the investigation.

"Safety of our students is our number one priority," said Morris, who added that she has never had to deal with an incident of this nature since she became superintendent.  "We're available for any parents that have questions or concerns," said Morris.

Baney lives in Loves Park and has children of her own that are in the Harlem School District.  In addition to previously coaching varsity girls basketball at Belvidere High School, she has also coached 7th grade girls basketball at Harlem Middle School.

After hearing about the allegations in early August of this year, Rockford police began an investigation that led to the Winnebago County State's Attorney's office contacting the Harlem School District on September 5^th, 2012 about the case.  It was at that time that Baney was put on paid administrative leave.

"We will work through it, we will be honest, forthright and transparent," said Morris.

If convicted on all 10 counts Baney could face up to 50 years in prison.  She turned herself into police Tuesday morning and is now out on bond.

Baney will appear before a judge to face her charges on October, 31st.