Gavin South teacher returning to U.S. to face sex abuse charges
More than three months after being taken into custody in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a former Gavin South Middle School teacher is being extradited to the United States to face prosecution on sexual assault charges.
Michael R. Vucic faces five counts each of predatory criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual assault stemming from allegations he molested a female student at the middle school near Ingleside. The school is part of Gavin Elementary District 37.
Vucic fled the U.S. on Aug. 26, three days before being charged by Lake County prosecutors, authorities say. An arrest warrant was issued here with a $1 million bail attached.
The 41-year-old Lake Forest man was found hiding in Bosnia and arrested in September, officials said. He was being escorted back to the United States Wednesday by the U.S. Marshal Service, the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia said in a statement.
"He is going to land in Dulles, Virginia, at some point," said Cynthia Vargas, spokeswoman for the Lake County state's attorney's office. When Vucic will return to Lake County is undetermined, she added.
If Vucic does not waive extradition from Virginia, Lake County authorities would have to get a warrant to allow them to arrest an individual in another state, according to Vargas.
"He wouldn't be in Illinois until next week. He's not in Lake County custody yet," she said.
Vucic is charged with molesting a girl under the age of 13 while she was a Gavin South student. The girl told her grandparents she had sexual contact with Vucic several times in 2012, authorities said.
Police said they believe the events occurred at the school, where Vucic taught social studies for 18 years. The girl reported the abuse Aug. 25 and an arrest warrant was issued and became public Aug. 29.
Three former District 37 teachers are charged with failing to report the suspected child abuse. John Keehan, 40, of Elgin, April Courtney, 37, of Wauconda, and Michael Lanners, 38, of Lake Villa, all pleaded not guilty and were released after posting $5,000 bail.
Vucic, Keehan and Courtney were fired from Gavin in October. Lanners was dismissed Nov. 17 from his position at Mundelein Elementary District 75.
Vargas said Vucic will appear in bond court when he arrives in Lake County.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office handled the proceedings and paperwork to have Vucic arrested in Bosnia. No one from the sheriff's office was available Wednesday to comment on the case.
"There's a whole slew of legal paperwork. That's why it took so long to bring him back," Vargas said.
Daily Herald Wire Services contributed to this report