Former Lake Zurich High teacher gets prison for child molesting

A former Lake Zurich High School teacher who admitted molesting two of his students was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

According to the terms of his negotiated plea in the case, Ronald Culver will be placed on probation for two years as soon as he is released from prison and will be required to complete sex offender counseling.

Culver, who resigned from the school shortly before his arrest in November, had taught English and drama at the school since 2002.

In January, Culver was attacked in his Inverness home by a male relative of one of the victims, and that man was charged with home invasion in Cook County where the case is pending.

Two students told police Culver molested them between late August and October of last year, and he was originally charged with multiple counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

He pleaded guilty to one count of that charge Monday, and Assistant State's Attorney Fred Day agreed to reduce a second count to criminal sexual abuse in exchange for Culver's plea.

Circuit Judge Daniel Shanes told Culver he was accepting the negotiation because “It presents the best chance, best hope perhaps, that you will someday again be a productive member of society.”

Culver also agreed to pay each victim $500 to cover counseling costs.

Shanes told Culver he will be banned from working in schools or having unsupervised contact with people under the age of 18 when he is on probation.

Day said Culver could have faced up to seven years in prison on each of the original charges brought against him.

Lake Zurich Unit District 95 officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.