A Chicago police officer has been charged with sexual misconduct while on duty after prosecutors say he inappropriately touched a woman in custody last year.
Officer Stephan Shaw, 32, made his first court appearance Tuesday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, where he was charged with two counts of custodial sexual misconduct and one count of official misconduct.
Judge William Fahy ordered him released with conditions, including not contacting any witnesses in the case. Cook County prosecutors did not seek detention in the case.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
The charges come nearly a year after a woman accused Shaw of sticking his hands down her pants and touching her inappropriately after she was arrested for shoplifting from a Michigan Avenue department store in May 2023. The victim also told authorities that she was forced to touch him during the booking process at the (Near North) 18th District police station, according to court documents.
During an initial appearance hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Heather Weber said Shaw was on duty in full uniform when the woman was arrested and taken to the station at 1160 N. Larrabee St. She was handcuffed to a wall in a holding area, Weber said.
Shaw made sexually suggestive comments, and touched the woman under and over her clothes, Weber said. He also placed her hand on his pelvic region, she said.
After she was released from custody, the woman and Shaw exchanged messages on Facebook messenger about her next court date, Weber said. Shaw referenced getting pizza with her, and she responded with a heart emoji, she said.
The woman told her mother that night, Weber said, and reported it to the Chicago Police Department the next day.
The woman later reported the incident to a police supervisor and the Civilian Officer of Police Accountability, which investigates misconduct allegations. A COPA spokeswoman said the case remains under investigation.
Weber said Shaw was relieved of his police powers upon arrest. Fahy ordered the defense to provide proof to the state’s attorney’s office when Shaw surrenders his weapon.
Shaw’s attorney Tim Grace said there was “zero” physical or corroborating evidence. He said the holding cell door was open the whole time, and that the woman became “combative” with officers.
A Police Department spokesman said Shaw was relieved of his duties this week. Public records show he joined CPD in June 2022.
The woman also has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Shaw. That case is still pending.
According to the federal lawsuit, Shaw told the woman — who is referred to as “Jane Doe” — that he was sexually aroused by her and then began touching her. He forcibly placed her hands on the front of his pants in an effort to demonstrate his attraction to her, the lawsuit states.
He then friended her on Facebook and suggested they go out for pizza sometime, the lawsuit states.
“During her three hours in the processing room at the 18th District, Jane was subjected to a barrage of sexually explicit comments and propositions by Defendant Shaw, one of her arresting officers, who repeatedly asked Jane if she would have sex with him, if she would let him touch her posterior, and if she wanted to touch his penis,” the federal lawsuit states.
The woman’s attorney told the Tribune the incident occurred in a booking room, with people constantly entering and leaving.
“He did this in full view, with people walking in and out,” attorney Jordan Marsh said. “The fact that this officer knows enough about the Chicago Police Department to know he can do this and he’s confident (in the moment) that he’s not going to get in trouble tells you all you need to know about the Chicago Police Department.”
