Herbert Charged in Aurora Child Abuse Case: 10 Counts, FBI Probe

Michael Robert Herbert, a 55-year-old Illinois real estate attorney and former Aurora Christian Schools board member, was arrested on May 14, 2026, and charged with ten felonies tied to the sexual abuse and exploitation of minors; the Michael Herbert Aurora child abuse case now also involves the FBI, which is working to identify additional victims who may have been targeted between 2013 and 2022.¹

The Ten Felony Counts

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office approved ten charges against Herbert:

One count of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor under 17, a Class X felony under 720 ILCS 5/10-9.²³
Four counts of criminal sexual assault in a supervisory role involving victims ages 13 to 17, each a Class 1 felony.⁴
One count of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor ages 17 to 18, a Class 1 felony.
Three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse where the defendant is more than five years older than the victim, each a Class 2 felony.
One count of possession of child sexual abuse material by computer, a Class 3 felony.

The Class X charge is the most serious; it carries severe prison exposure under the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections and mandates restitution.³

What Police Say Happened

The investigation began in December 2025, when a man in his twenties told Aurora police that Herbert had abused him starting when he was an early teenager.⁵ Prosecutors say Herbert served as that victim’s tutor beginning in 2015, when the boy was 13, and provided money, gifts, and trips to Disney World in exchange for sexual acts at Herbert’s Aurora home.⁶

Police say that after Herbert’s arrest, other men came forward with accounts of being abused as children. Prosecutors said Herbert admitted to some of the allegations and acknowledged there were additional victims beyond the initial complainant.⁶

Why the FBI Is Involved

Because some of the alleged abuse occurred outside Illinois, Aurora police brought in the FBI.⁷ The FBI’s Chicago Field Office said it believes Herbert primarily targeted minor boys between 2013 and 2022.¹ The FBI’s intake form asks whether a minor traveled with the subject, which suggests investigators are examining possible federal violations tied to crossing state lines. No federal charges have been publicly announced; Herbert currently faces only the state counts in Kane County.⁸

Current Status of the Case

A judge ordered Herbert held after a May 15, 2026 detention hearing at the Kane County Adult Justice Center, and he remained in the Kane County jail as of mid-June 2026.⁴ A status hearing was set for July 22, 2026. No plea or trial date has been reported.¹

Who Herbert Is

Herbert is a licensed Illinois real estate attorney who sat on the Aurora Christian Schools board and previously held the positions of vice chairman and secretary. His wife is employed by the school.⁵ Police allege he used his trusted standing in the school community to reach the victims, offering money and gifts as part of ongoing manipulation.⁴

How Aurora Christian Schools Responded

On May 15, 2026, Superintendent Collette House confirmed Herbert no longer serves on the board. The school called the allegations “deeply disturbing” and said it would cooperate fully with the Aurora Police Department investigation.⁹

How to Report Information

Anyone who believes they were abused by Herbert, or who has information useful to investigators, can contact the Aurora Police Department at 630-256-5500 or tips@aurora.il.us.⁶ The FBI’s confidential online form is at fbi.gov/LetYourVoiceBeHeard.¹⁰

1
Chicago Tribune. Michael Herbert Aurora Investigation FBI Involved
2
Fox 32 Chicago. Aurora School Board Member Accused of Grooming, Abusing Minor
3
FindLaw. Illinois Statute 720 ILCS 5/10-9
4
ABC 7 Chicago. Aurora Christian Schools Board Member Michael Robert Herbert Facing Sexual Assault, Sex Abuse Charges
5
Daily Herald. Former Aurora Christian Schools Board Member Charged With Sexual Abuse of Minor
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CBS News Chicago. Aurora Christian Schools Board Member Michael Robert Herbert Child Sex Abuse
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Shaw Local News Network. Aurora Christian Schools Ex-Board Member Charged With Sex Abuse of Multiple Minors, FBI Investigating
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FBI. Let Your Voice Be Heard – Victim Reporting Form
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Aurora Christian Schools. Statement From ACS
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Shaw Local News Network. FBI, Aurora Police Seek Potential Sex Abuse Victims of Former Aurora Christian Schools Board Member