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Schools

Trial Date Changed For Former Teacher Accused of Sexual Abuse

Assistant state's attorney, lawyer both request delay.

Ronald D. Culver, 51, a former Lake Zurich High School teacher who faces charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of two students, was in Lake County court this morning to have his trial date changed.

At today’s pre-trial hearing, Fred Day, Lake County assistant state's attorney and Stephen M. Simonian, Culver’s attorney both requested rescheduling of his Tuesday, Feb. 22, trial. Culver’s new trial date is Monday, April 4, with his third pre-trial conference scheduled on Tuesday, March 15.

“We aren’t in trial posture yet,” said Day. “This isn’t unexpected, it’s totally normal.”

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“It’s still early in the process,” said Simonian.

In the weeks leading up to the next pre-trial conference Simonian said, “We will have a direction as to what’s going to happen. I’ll be gathering reports and talking with who I need to talk with.”

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Culver also will be in Cook County court on Monday, Feb. 14, to face the man, who on Jan. 18, went to his home, rang the doorbell, pushed Culver to the ground, said “you’re a child molester” and put the barrel of the gun in Culver’s mouth. The man is a relative of one of the victims and turned himself in to Inverness police the next day.

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

On Oct. 29, Culver resigned as a teacher from Lake Zurich High School and was arrested and charged 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.

There haven’t been any discussions of a plea bargain, according to Day.

“Hopefully we’ll see a resolution and have a meaningful discussion that doesn’t lead to a trial,” said Day.

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.

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