Trial date delayed for Gavin teacher facing molestation charges
The trial date for the former Gavin South Middle School teacher accused of molesting two former students before fleeing the country has been pushed back to late August.
Defense attorney Elliot Pinsel also said he is trying to work out a plea deal to resolve the sex assault case against Michael Vucic, 41, of Lake Forest, who is accused of having sex with the students between 2007 and 2012.
"We are trying to get a fair resolution short of trial," Pinsel said after Monday's hearing in front of Judge Daniel Shanes. Pinsel and Assistant State's Attorney Fred Day did not discuss the plea deal under review in court.
In court, Pinsel said he would not be looking for an insanity defense should the case go to trial.
Vucic has pleaded not guilty to more than 50 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child, aggravated child pornography, criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 17 and aggravated criminal sexual abuse for his alleged conduct with two former students while he worked at Gavin South.
If found guilty of the most serious charges, he could be sent to prison for more than 120 years, authorities said.
Authorities said the first victim to come forward told her grandparents she engaged in sex acts with Vucic after school in his classroom. He was her social studies teacher at the Ingleside school. Sex acts also took place when Vucic and the student would Skype to each other over the Internet, authorities said.
During the investigation, a teacher came forward with a plastic bag containing more than 20 thumb drives and videotapes of Vucic engaging in sex acts with the victim, authorities said. Vucic left instructions for friends to destroy the contents should he die or be arrested, officials said.
The videos were reviewed by police, who found evidence of Vucic engaging in sex acts with another victim in 2007, authorities said. Police contacted that victim, who admitted to police she had sexual contact with Vucic when she was 14, authorities said.
Both victims are no longer students at Gavin.
Vucic fled the country days before charges were filed against him, setting off an international manhunt. He was arrested in Bosnia-Herzegovina in September 2014, three weeks after the charges were filed.
He remains held in Lake County jail without bond. He is due back in court July 23, and his trial is scheduled for Aug. 31.