Trial Date Changed For Former Teacher Accused of Sexual Abuse

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

At the pre-trial hearing, Fred Day, Lake County assistant state's attorney and Stephen M. Simonian, Culver’s attorney requested rescheduling his Tuesday, Feb. 22, trial. Culver’s new trial date is Monday, April 4.

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

Culver also will be in Cook County court on Monday, Feb. 14, to face the man, who on Jan. 18, allegedly went to his home, rang the doorbell, pushed Culver to the ground, said “you’re a child molester.” The man then allegedly put the barrel of a 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.

Palatine Patch is not naming the relative to protect the identity of the student Culver is accused of abusing.

Culver, 51, 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 and is free on bond.

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.