A former suburban fire chief who served in Glen Ellyn and Oak Brook is facing a felony charge after being accused of exposing himself near Glenbard West High School, police said Friday.

       James Bodony, 71, of Glen Ellyn, was arrested Sept. 7 and charged with public indecency, according to court records and a police news release.

       Authorities allege a female student saw a naked man about 11 a.m. Sept. 3 while he “exposed his penis, while masturbating, in front of an open doorway of a residence — visible from school grounds, while being less than 500 feet away from the secondary school,” according to court records.

       The student told police she and her friend were walking back from lunch while creating a Snapchat video when the incident occurred, a police report said.

       Police said they identified Bodony and later made the arrest. He posted a bail bond of $1,000 one day after his arrest and is due in DuPage County court for arraignment Oct. 19. As a condition of his release, Bodony is barred from being on the grounds of the Glen Ellyn high school, at 670 Crescent Blvd.

       He does not live at the home where the alleged offense occurred, according to Glen Ellyn Deputy Chief Kurt Vavra.

       Bodony and his attorney did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

       Bodony retired as fire chief in Oak Brook in 2009 after a nearly 40-year career. He was named the village’s fire chief in July 2005 and formerly was in the Air Force.

       He also was a longtime fire official with the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company, including serving as its chief for three years until 2016. Officials issued a news release Friday saying Bodony retired as a firefighter Sept. 13.

       “We have conducted an internal review and we are not aware of any prior acts or complaints regarding his conduct with the fire company,” Chris Clark, Glen Ellyn’s fire chief, said in the release.

       cmgutowski@chicagotribune.com

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