Former Drama Teacher Asks Judge to Lift Curfew to Gain Job

Ronald D. Culver, at his pre-trial hearing in 19th District Lake County Circuit Court today, requested being taken off his nightly 6 p.m. bond curfew to gain employment.

Culver, 51, of 915 W. Blackburn Drive, Inverness, is charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of two Lake Zurich High School students, according to court records. The charges are a Class 2 felony. The students' identities and genders are being protected.

Circuit Court Judge Daniel B. Shanes denied the request, but agreed to allow pre-trial bond services to give Culver flexibility in his curfew "as long as he was at his job in the theater," said Shanes.

Culver, a former English and drama teacher at Lake Zurich High School, is seeking employment in the city of Chicago, "I'll be shadowing a director tomorrow," Culver told the judge.

Shanes asked if the job was "in children's theater" and Culver responded by shaking his head "no."

Terms of Culver's bond also indicate he is allowed to travel Missouri and New York to seek employment.

During the hearing, Fred Day, assistant Lake County state's attorney alleged that Culver recently sent a "happy holidays" text message to a different student. The terms of  the bond state that Culver isn't allowed to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.

"There is no evidence that it was from him" said Stephen Simonian, Culver's attorney.

"We are still looking into it," said Day. "We wanted the court to be aware of it."

Culver has deleted all students information from his phone and "will change his phone number," said Simonian.

According to Day, No motions were filed at the pre-trial conference.

"That is normal," said Day. "It is still early in the case."

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

Culver has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

His total bond is $250,000, and he has posted $25,000 or 10 percent of it.

The next pre-trial conference will be held on Monday, Feb. 3.

"We are making sure all the police reports are tendered and our paperwork is in order," said Fred Day, assistant Lake County state's attorney.

In weeks leading up to the next pre-trial Day anticipates "sitting down with the defense, talking through the details and seeing if there will be a trial or not."

A trial date is set on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

"We will continue to conduct our own investigations," said Simonian.

Culver faces a possible sentence of three to seven years in prison if he is convicted of any one of the 10 Class 2 felony counts.