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Ex-Schaumburg teacher pleads guilty in sex case

A former Schaumburg Christian School math teacher was sentenced to 30 months probation Tuesday in exchange for his guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child.

Paul LaDuke, 76, of Hanover Park, must also complete a mental health evaluation and register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Additionally, Cook County Judge Ellen Mandletort ordered that LaDuke have no unsupervised contact with children under 18.

LaDuke was sitting behind a podium during his morning Algebra 2 class last November when he exposed himself to nine high school students who were under age 16, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mike Gerber.

He later made a statement to police admitting what he had done, Gerber said.

During an earlier hearing, defense attorney Frank Furlett said his client suffers from frontal lobe dysfunction, a brain condition that compromises impulse control and social inhibitions, he said.

However, LaDuke co-counsel Irv Seidler insisted the diagnosis does not suggest insanity.

“This is more a case of diminished capacity,” Seidler said.

Extensive mitigation, including LaDuke's age, lack of criminal history and accomplishments, made probation an appropriate sentence, Seidler said.

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