Illinois Minister Caught Masturbating in Class at Christian School
Paul LaDuke, an Illinois teacher and ordained minister, was charged yesterday for masturbating behind the lectern in his classroom full of students at Schaumburg Christian school.
LaDuke, 75, was charged with a felony for sexual exploitation of a child for his lewd activities, some of which may have been occurring for up to 10 years, according to police.
“It’s not that it’s been reported and nothing has been done, it’s just that during the course of the investigation, we’ve come to learn certain information… there’s a possibility of more charges before a grand jury,” said Sgt. John Nebel of the Schaumburg police department said to a CBS Chicago affiliate.
The Hanover Park resident was allegedly seated at his desk on Friday when a student spotted his pants on the ground, apparently unzipped from earlier. The student told another teacher, who subsequently notified administration.
LaDuke was fired immediately. Police were contacted Monday, and an investigation began.
In court today, the Cook County state attorney’s office informed the judge that prosecutors have a handwritten note from LaDuke admitting that he fantasized about female students while masturbating.
The math teacher worked for the Christian school for over 26 years, teaching a variety of math subjects. Parents were shocked.
“I understand there’s an issue that he did something he shouldn’t have done… but I know that the school did what it had needed to do,” said Daniel Csoka, a parent, to CBS Chicago.
At the same time, there have been no reports of any inappropriate contact with children, or any sexual harassment on the part of LaDuke.
“I believe that the officials and the administration did what they needed to do. I’m not concerned about my child,” Csoka added.
Currently, LaDuke’s bail is set for $40,000, meaning he must come up with only $4,000-10 percentage of the total-to be freed. The former teacher is also barred from the school and surrounding campus.
The school released a statement regarding the incident.
Jim Toth, the school’s administrator, said: “We are shocked… we reacted as quickly as we possibly could."
“We are fully cooperating with Schaumburg Police Department at this time, as they continue their investigation,” Toth added.
