News / International
Maths teacher masturbates in front of pupils
17 Nov 2011 at 08:38hrs | Views
Chicago - A math teacher who admitted to masturbating during class for the past 10 years faces felony charges after he was caught in the act at a Christian school near Chicago, prosecutors said.
Paul LaDuke, 75, had worked for the Schaumburg Christian School for 26 years. That changed on Friday when a student saw what he was doing behind the teaching podium and ran for help, prosecutors said.
"During his 10 o'clock algebra class the defendant placed an apron over his clothing and sat behind his teaching podium," said Tandra Simonton, a spokesperson for Cook County State's Attorney's office.
"While the children were doing an assignment, the defendant unbuckled his pants and slid them down to just below his hips. The defendant then began to masturbate."
There were 13 students in the classroom at the time, nine of whom were 16 years of age and four of whom were at least 17 years old.
Churchgoing family man
LaDuke admitted to police in a handwritten note that he had masturbated in his classroom for the past 10 years, including on Friday morning, Simontron said.
"He also admitted to fantasising about female students while he was doing this," she said.
Judge Jill Marisie set bail at $40 000 on Wednesday on one charge of sexual exploitation of a child and ordered that LaDuke was to have no contact with children or anyone connected to the school. He could face further charges as the investigation continues.
A school spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment.
However, administrator Jim Toth told CBS news that the school took action as quickly as it could.
"We are shocked. We are saddened by what has transpired over the last few days. As soon as we started to receive information, we reacted as quickly as we possibly could," Toth said.
"We are fully co-operating with Schaumburg Police Department at this time, as they continue their investigation."
Defence attorney Irv Seidler told the station that he thinks LaDuke has some form of dementia and said his wife of 54 years described him as a churchgoing family man.
"I'm not sure if they're his statements, or again, being told what happened and then just repeating what he was told," Seidler said.
Paul LaDuke, 75, had worked for the Schaumburg Christian School for 26 years. That changed on Friday when a student saw what he was doing behind the teaching podium and ran for help, prosecutors said.
"During his 10 o'clock algebra class the defendant placed an apron over his clothing and sat behind his teaching podium," said Tandra Simonton, a spokesperson for Cook County State's Attorney's office.
"While the children were doing an assignment, the defendant unbuckled his pants and slid them down to just below his hips. The defendant then began to masturbate."
There were 13 students in the classroom at the time, nine of whom were 16 years of age and four of whom were at least 17 years old.
Churchgoing family man
LaDuke admitted to police in a handwritten note that he had masturbated in his classroom for the past 10 years, including on Friday morning, Simontron said.
"He also admitted to fantasising about female students while he was doing this," she said.
Judge Jill Marisie set bail at $40 000 on Wednesday on one charge of sexual exploitation of a child and ordered that LaDuke was to have no contact with children or anyone connected to the school. He could face further charges as the investigation continues.
A school spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment.
However, administrator Jim Toth told CBS news that the school took action as quickly as it could.
"We are shocked. We are saddened by what has transpired over the last few days. As soon as we started to receive information, we reacted as quickly as we possibly could," Toth said.
"We are fully co-operating with Schaumburg Police Department at this time, as they continue their investigation."
Defence attorney Irv Seidler told the station that he thinks LaDuke has some form of dementia and said his wife of 54 years described him as a churchgoing family man.
"I'm not sure if they're his statements, or again, being told what happened and then just repeating what he was told," Seidler said.
Source - Sapa
