Prospect Heights teacher charged with sexual assault on student

A teacher at MacArthur Middle School in Prospect Heights has been charged with sexually molesting a student.

Prospect Heights police charged Ronald Vos, 53, of the 500 block of Longwood Drive in Buffalo Grove, with criminal sexual assault, in connection to alleged relations with a former student during the time the boy was 13 to 15 years old.

Four separate offenses occurred in Vos' school office and in his car in Wheeling between September 2005 through March 2007, according to a report given Saturday in Cook County Circuit Court in Rolling Meadows.

Authorities allege that Vos gave the victim cigarettes and alcohol and exchanged instant messages and e-mails with him.

Vos was released on $100,000 bond, which means he was required to post $10,000. He has known about the investigation since September and has cooperated and made no attempt to flee, said his attorney, Dan Hoffman.

Outside the courtroom after Vos' hearing, a woman who came to support him in court and met with his attorney said the allegations are all lies.

Vos has been suspended with pay and barred from the school grounds since early September when the allegations first arose, said Gregory Guarrine, superintendent of Prospect Heights Elementary District 23. The board of education will determine his future status.

The investigation was conducted by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Prospect Heights police, not school officials, said Guarrine.

A letter will be sent to parents Monday and posted on the district and MacArthur Web sites, he said.

As a condition of his bond, Vos is not allowed to have contact with any minors, including at MacArthur, other schools or parks.

According to Vos' page on the school Web site, he taught computer skills, advised the computer and video clubs, and coached the track team.

His next court appearance is Feb. 27.