Woodstock substance abuse counselor charged with sexually abusing child

WOODSTOCK – A 29-year-old Woodstock man who counsels clients in the McHenry County court system was charged Tuesday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, after police said he was seen kissing a young boy at the city pool.

Taylor L. Blaul, 1429 Oakleaf Lane, Woodstock, remained in McHenry County Jail on Tuesday awaiting a Wednesday bond hearing after police charged him with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

An investigation following the alleged pool incident on July 9 revealed that Blaul had inappropriate contact with the male juvenile three other times, beginning in September 2013, said Woodstock Police Chief Robert Lowen.

Blaul works as a clinical director specializing in alcohol and drug counseling for Direct Counseling, a well-established family firm located in Woodstock and Crystal Lake that does significant counseling work throughout McHenry County.

An employee at Direct Counseling declined comment Tuesday evening on the charges facing Blaul, referring the issue to an office manager, who was not available Tuesday.

The police investigation into Blaul started after an employee at Woodstock Water Works saw the Woodstock resident "kissing and inappropriately touching" a male child at the pool grounds on July 9, Lowen said.

Police declined to give the juvenile's age, only saying the male child was over the age of 10. Blaul and the juvenile are not related, Lowen said.

Woodstock police worked with the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office, the Child Advocacy Center of Woodstock, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on the investigation.

On Tuesday, Woodstock detectives met with Blaul, took him into custody and charged him, police said.