Fired Catholic teacher charged with sexual abuse, used fake names to get jobs

A man used multiple aliases to work at Catholic schools and tutor children, before allegedly engaging in sexual abuse.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 7:31pm

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A 43-year-old man named Brett Smith, who has used multiple aliases including BJ S. McAuliffe, BJ S., BJ Smith, and BJ Wilhelm, has been charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He allegedly used fake names to get jobs as a teacher and tutor at several Catholic schools in the Chicago area over the past 16 months, and engaged in sexual contact with a child while working as a private tutor.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of thorough background checks and vetting processes for anyone working with children, especially in sensitive positions of trust like teachers and tutors. It also raises concerns about how an individual with a history of allegations in multiple states was still able to pass state background checks and gain employment at Catholic schools.

The details

According to police, parents in the south suburbs found a tutor named BJ S. McAuliffe on the Nextdoor app for their 9-year-old son. However, the Zelle bank payment showed up under the name Brett Smith, leading the parents to become suspicious. They then found articles online about previous allegations against him. Smith turned himself in after detectives tried to find him at his house. Authorities say his original legal name was Brett Zagorac, but he changed it to Smith and used other aliases like BJ S. and BJ Smith to advertise tutoring services.

  • In January 2026, parents in the south suburbs hired a tutor named BJ S. McAuliffe, who was later identified as Brett Smith.
  • In January 2026, Smith was arrested and charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
  • Smith is due back in court on February 20, 2026.

The players

Brett Smith

A 43-year-old man who has used multiple aliases, including BJ S. McAuliffe, BJ S., BJ Smith, and BJ Wilhelm, to get jobs as a teacher and tutor at several Catholic schools in the Chicago area. He has been charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Archdiocese of Chicago

The Catholic archdiocese that oversees schools in the Chicago area, which sent a letter to families stating that Smith has interacted with students at four of their south side and south suburban Catholic schools over the past 16 months. The archdiocese immediately barred Smith from their schools and fired him when they learned of the allegations.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on February 20, 2026 whether or not to allow Brett Smith to be released on electronic monitoring so he can take care of his parents.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical need for thorough background checks and vetting processes for anyone working with children, especially in positions of trust like teachers and tutors. It also raises concerns about how an individual with a history of allegations was still able to pass state background checks and gain employment at Catholic schools, underscoring the importance of greater scrutiny and information-sharing between institutions to protect vulnerable students.