Joliet woman accused of sex with teen allowed to work around children
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com November 8, 2012 2:12PM
Margarita Hernandez | Supplied photo
Updated: December 10, 2012 6:24AM
A Will County judge Thursday agreed to allow a Joliet woman accused of having sex with a teenage boy to work around children.
Margarita Hernandez, 31, is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old boy who she met through his friendship with some of her relatives.
The incident allegedly occurred in July. The two had oral sex and sexual intercourse at Hernandez’s home, 6901 Monmouth Drive, police said.
In October, her bond was reduced from $250,000 to $100,000. As a condition of her bond, she was ordered to have no contact with anyone under age 18.
Thursday, her attorney asked Judge Edward Burmila to allow her to go to her job as a customer service representative for Southwest Airlines at Midway Airport in Chicago, where she would encounter children.
Hernandez hadn’t missed a day of work in 11 years, her lawyer said. She has a history of charity work and also serves as a Troy Township Democratic committeewoman.
Burmila told Hernandez she was not allowed to be in any confined area of the airport with children, only in public, and that she was only allowed to be around children while she was at work.
Burmila said if she violates his conditions and is convicted of the charge, he would give her the maximum prison sentence.
Hernandez is due in court again Dec. 6.
