Suburban private tutor who used a fake name accused of sexual abuse of student
by: Alonzo Small, Andy Koval, Christine Flores
ORLAND PARK, Ill. (WGN) — The allegation of sexual abuse involving a suburban private tutor and a juvenile has landed a 43-year-old behind bars.
According to Orland Park police, officers arrested Brett Smith on Wednesday, Jan. 28, after he turned himself in. Police say their investigation began when parents hired a tutor who identified himself as “BJ S. McAuliffe” to tutor their child.
Police say concerns grew when the name on a bank payment appeared as Brett Smith.
The parents ran an online search of Brett Smith, also known as Brett Zagorac. Police said they found news articles and videos referencing prior allegations against Smith involving children in other states.
Orland Park opened their investigation after the parents contacted the department.
Upon further investigation, area detectives found that Brett Zagorac legally changed his name to Brett Smith and used several aliases, including “BJ S.,” “BJ Smith,” and “BJ S. McAuliffe,” when advertising private tutoring services.
Detectives also found probable cause that Smith engaged in sexual contact with the 9-year-old during more than a dozen tutoring sessions, according to court documents obtained by WGN News.
The Archdiocese of Chicago informed parents that they are “deeply concerned” before stating that he has worked in South Side and South Suburban Catholic schools.
They stated he passed state background and fingerprint checks. They released the following employment timeline below:
- Working as a long-term substitute in St. Walter-St. Benedict School (Chicago and Blue Island) during the 2024-25 school year,
- Working as an employee of a third-party vendor assigned to Pope John Paul II School (Chicago) at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year,
- Working as a private tutor for at least one family with a student enrolled at a Catholic school in the south suburbs and possibly more than one family, and
- Working as a substitute teacher at Queen of Martyrs School (Evergreen Park) in January 2026.
The archdiocese said they barred him from schools and he was terminated after learning about the allegations.
“At this time, we know of no allegations of sexual misconduct against Mr. Smith during his time at St. Walter-St. Benedict, Pope John Paul II, or Queen of Martyrs schools. We have learned, however, that one family in the south suburbs filed a complaint against Mr. Smith with their local police for conduct that occurred while he was tutoring in their home,” the archdiocese said.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Smith with felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Smith appeared in court on Friday. Prosecutors presented a flurry of allegations dating back to 2003, involving children between the ages of five and nine. A judge ruled that he remains behind bars, reportedly telling the suspect, “Mr. Smith, enough is enough.”
Orland Park personnel ask anyone who believes they, their child, or a child under their care may have been a victim of Smith to contact the police department where the incident occurred.
