EVERGREEN PARK (IL)
ABC7 Chicago [Chicago, IL]
February 6, 2026
By Eric Horng
Queen of Martyrs teacher, private tutor Brett Smith fired over history of child molestation allegations: Archdiocese of Chicago
There new allegations tonight against a fired Chicago-area Catholic school teacher.
Brett Smith was already accused of sex abuse. Now a family’s lawsuit says he groomed their second grader and “inappropriately touched” him last month.
A lawsuit filed by the mother of a second grader at Queen of Martyrs School in Evergreen Park alleges 43-year-old Brett Smith groomed her second grade son and inappropriately touched him.
Last week, days after the Archdiocese of Chicago said Smith was fired as a substitute teacher at Queen of Martyrs, Evergreen Park Police announced he was charged with battery related to his time at the school. It’s unclear if those charges and the new lawsuit are related.
Smith was also charged last week by Orland Park Police with criminal sexual abuse of a 9-year-old boy during private tutoring sessions.
In a statement, Smith’s attorney said, “This is a shakedown of the Archdiocese… The Archdiocese did nothing wrong, and Brett did nothing wrong.”
READ MORE | Parents react after substitute at south suburban Catholic school fired over child molestation claims
Smith has been charged multiple times with sexually abusing children, but he has only been convicted of battery.
His attorney added, “Brett has never been convicted of ever committing a sexually inappropriate touching of ANYONE in any case! Every time, prosecutors have concluded that the police responded first, when they should have conducted a more thorough investigation.”
The Archdiocese says it does not comment on litigation.
Smith was hired at Queen of Martys last month and began working for the Archdiocese in 2024 after the church said he passed a background check.