Former Teacher Culver's Pre-Trial Date Moved To August

Ronald D. Culver, 51, former English and drama teacher at Lake Zurich High School, appeared in court Tuesday morning alongside his attorney Stephen Simonian and was granted a new pre-trial conference date of Aug. 9 and a trial date of Aug. 22.

Culver faces charges of criminal sexual abuse of two Lake Zurich High School students, whose identities are being protected. He has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to Lake Zurich police.

“We’ve (Simonian) been talking for quite some time,” said Fred Day, assistant state’s attorney. “It looks like they are interested in resolving the case."

The charges against Culver are Class 2 felonies. If convicted on any of the 10 counts, Culver could face three to seven years in prison. Culver has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Day has been talking with the student victims’ families throughout the entire case.

“Anything we have done has not been without discussion with the families,” Day said.

Simonian had no comment on the case.

On Oct. 29, 2010, Culver resigned as a teacher from Lake Zurich High School and was arrested by Lake Zurich police on charges of aggravated sexual abuse against one student. Days later, a second student came forward with a similar claim, according to Lake Zurich police.

Culver’s total bond was $250,000, and he posted $25,000, or 10 percent, of it.