Lake Zurich teacher testifies accuser’s relative threatened to kill him

A Cook County judge on Monday found probable cause to detain an Inverness man after hearing testimony that he burst into the home of a former Lake Zurich High School teacher and threatened to kill him.

The former teacher, Ronald Culver, is accused of molesting a student related to the man, authorities say.

Culver’s voice broke as he took the witness stand and described the events of Jan. 18, when he said the intruder pushed into his Inverness house and shoved a gun into his mouth.

To protect the student’s identity, the Daily Herald is not naming the defendant, who is charged with home invasion, a class X felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison.

Culver said he noticed the man outside his home that night, but believed he was a Lake County probation officer doing a checkup. Culver testified that he opened the door to the man, after which the defendant screamed profanities, overpowered him and pushed him back into the house.

The defendant produced a gun and forced him toward the kitchen, Culver said. At the same time, the defendant called him a “rich kid” who will “never do a day in jail,” Culver testified.

Claiming he belonged to the mafia, the defendant put the gun to Culver’s head, saying “all I have to do is make a phone call and you’re dead,” testified Culver, who said the defendant repeatedly hit him on the head and back with the gun.

The defendant then shoved the gun into Culver’s mouth, saying “if you don’t go to jail, I’m going to kill you myself,” testified Culver, who identified his attacker in open court.

However, under cross examination from defense attorney David Corbett, Culver admitted that he could not identify the defendant from a photo lineup the police showed him at the hospital where he was taken after the altercation. Culver also admitted that he has been charged with criminal sexual assault in Lake County.

Culver, a former English and drama teacher at Lake Zurich, has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse stemming from two students’ allegations. He resigned from his teaching job Oct. 29 and was arrested a few days later.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Kay Hanlon set March 8 as the defendant’s arraignment date. He remains free after posting $2,500 of his $25,000 bail.