Grant High teacher denies giving drugs, alcohol to minors
A math teacher at Grant High School pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges she gave drugs and alcohol to minors, and tried to harass one of the witnesses against her.
Kym A. Krocza, 41, is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and harassment of a witness in Lake County circuit court.
Assistant State's Attorney Fred Day said Krocza, who has been suspended from the teaching position she has held since 2000, is accused of giving marijuana, Zoloft and alcohol to two 14-year-old girls.
Day said the girls did light work around Krocza's house in the 36000 block of Wilson Road in Ingleside between January and July, and later became students in her class at Grant.
Lake County sheriff's police began investigating after a parent of one of the girls complained.
Krocza was charged with contributing to delinquency Sept. 13. Later that week, police said, she drove to the home of one of the girls and abandoned her car in the driveway until someone inside the house called police.
The harassment of a witness charge was filed in response to that incident. Krocza faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison if convicted of both charges, but would also be eligible for probation.
Associate Judge Christopher Stride scheduled a trial of the case for Feb. 19 and told Krocza, who was freed after posting $10,000 for bond, that she must appear in court Jan. 21.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=321751">Grant High School teacher accused of supplying booze, drugs to students <span class="date">[09/15/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=322298">Accused teacher arrested again on harassment charge <span class="date">[09/17/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>