Cook County prosecutors on Monday filed a motion to admit evidence of other alleged criminal conduct against Carlos Mendez, the former assistant principal at Washington Elementary School, who is charged along with a former paraprofessional in a case that alleges the sexual abuse of a minor.
Motion seeks to add separate Miami allegations
The motion, described by prosecutors as a request to admit evidence of "other crimes," focuses on allegations that Mendez abused a relative, then about 13 years old, during a vacation in Miami in June 2025. The document is intended to be considered only as to Mendez, 51, but Cook County charging documents filed when the two were first charged in February said both defendants allegedly participated in the Miami incident.
Mendez and his girlfriend, Maribel Flores-Hernandez, 34, a former paraprofessional at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center, were initially accused in Illinois of abusing Flores-Hernandez’s relative over several months in 2023 in Chicago.
Court timeline and defense responses
During a brief hearing in which both defendants were brought from jail, Judge Charles Burns told Mendez’s attorney, David Gaeger, that he has until Sept. 17 to file a written response to the prosecution’s motion. Oral arguments are expected shortly after that filing date.
Flores-Hernandez was not named in the motion, but her attorney, Juneitha Shambee, said she will contest any allegations that affect her client and expressed concern that introducing the Miami allegations could prejudice a jury.
“Either way, my client will fight it should it affect her as well,” Shambee said. “The whole point of filing the motion is to use it against them. They haven’t been found guilty but unfortunately the law says they can use even unsubstantiated claims.”
Shambee also confirmed that an active Florida warrant remains in place for the arrests of both Mendez and Flores-Hernandez and that the Florida authorities are expected to act on that warrant after the Illinois case is resolved. She reiterated that the Illinois trial is on track to begin before the end of the year.
Case details and stakes
The prosecution’s motion raises issues that frequently animate criminal trials: whether evidence of other alleged misconduct is admissible to show intent, pattern or identity, and whether such evidence would unfairly sway jurors. Defense attorneys often argue that admitting allegations unrelated to the charged conduct risks impermissible prejudice.
The proceedings involve several factual anchors already in the public record:
- Defendants: Carlos Mendez, 51; Maribel Flores-Hernandez, 34.
- Alleged victims' age: about 13 at the time of the claimed abuse in Miami (June 2025) and during the earlier alleged abuse in Chicago (2023).
- Locations referenced: Chicago incidents in 2023; Miami incident in June 2025.
Prosecutors argued the Miami incident is relevant to the Illinois prosecution; defense counsel countered that adding those allegations — particularly ones that have not led to convictions — could improperly influence jurors about the defendants’ character.
| Person | Role | Age | Alleged incidents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Mendez | Former assistant principal, Washington Elementary | 51 | Illinois (2023); Miami (June 2025) — motion seeks to admit Miami allegations |
| Maribel Flores-Hernandez | Former paraprofessional, Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center | 34 | Illinois (2023); named in Cook County charging documents as allegedly involved in Miami incident |
The decision on whether to admit the Miami allegations will be consequential for how the prosecution presents its case and what evidence the jury may consider. If the motion is granted, defense attorneys have suggested they will argue the evidence is prejudicial rather than probative.
Next steps include the defense response by Sept. 17 and scheduled oral arguments. The Illinois trial remains scheduled to begin before the end of the year, according to public comments from defense counsel. Meanwhile, an outstanding Florida warrant could prompt separate action after the Illinois matter concludes.
