Teacher accused of sex assault

A teacher at an all-girls Catholic high school on Chicago's southwest side is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Twenty-four-year-old Maria High School chemistry teacher Eric Cheung is charged with sexual assault.

Cheung, who had given all students his e-mail address for homework questions, at first had a normal teacher-student relationship with the girl. However, Cook County State's Attorney's spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said Monday the e-mail messages turned to a more "inappropriate romantic" nature.

Simonton said between Oct. 15, 2008 and Dec. 19, 2008, Cheung sexually assaulted the girl several times.

The prosecutor said a Cook County judge set bail for Cheung at $500,000.

Archdiocese of Chicago officials have not commented on the charges, and the lawyer representing Cheung declined to comment.