Judge delays decision on teacher accused of not reporting Gavin abuse

The fate of the last of three former teachers accused of failing to report the sexual abuse of a Gavin Elementary District 37 student by a colleague will be decided in December.

The trial of Michael Lanners, 38, of Lake Villa, started Thursday but was delayed for one month while Lake County Judge Brian Hughes decides if there is enough proof to continue the trial.

The trial will resume Dec. 18 with a ruling by Hughes, Lake County State's Attorney spokeswoman Cynthia Vargas said.

If Hughes finds there is enough evidence to convict Lanners, defense attorneys will argue the case, Vargas said. However, if Hughes finds there is not enough evidence against Lanners, the charges will be dismissed, Vargas said.

John Keehan, 41, of Elgin, and April Courtney, 35, of Wauconda, previously pleaded guilty to charges they did not report the sexual abuse by Michael Vucic, 41, of Lake Forest, as required by law.

Courtney was sentenced to 30 days in Lake County jail, while Keehan received 12 months of conditional discharge.

Courtney and Keehan worked with Vucic at Gavin when he was charged with 50 counts for molesting students. Lanners worked in District 37 more than a decade ago, but he working as a gym teacher in Mundelein at the time of Vucic's arrest.

Vucic pleaded guilty in September and was sentenced to 50 years in prison for sexually assaulting the two Gavin students while serving as a social studies teacher at the district for 18 years.

Lanners can be sentenced up to 1 year in jail if found guilty.