Masturbating teacher fantasized about students: prosecutors
BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Criminal Courts Reporter rhussain@suntimes.com November 16, 2011 11:52AM
Paul A. LaDuke / photo from Schaumburg police
Updated: May 9, 2012 10:00AM
A Schaumburg math teacher charged with masturbating in his classroom allegedly told police he had pleasured himself at the school for the last 10 years while fantasizing about female students.
Paul A. LaDuke, 75, made the handwritten admission after he was arrested for a Veteran’s Day incident that was witnessed by two students at the Schaumburg Christian School, according to Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman with the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
While his students were working on an assignment during a 10 a.m. algebra class Friday, LaDuke placed an apron around his waist, unbuckled his pants below his hips and began masturbating behind a podium, Simonton said.
One of the students who saw LaDuke’s alleged lewd behavior notified another teacher. That teacher contacted school administrators, which led to an investigation that resulted in LaDuke’s firing Friday afternoon, police said.
Of the 13 students in LaDuke’s morning class Friday, 9 were 16 years old and four were 17, Simonton said
LaDuke, during a bond hearing in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday morning, was ordered held in lieu of $40,000 bail for sexual exploitation of a child.
LaDuke, of Hanover Park, had been teaching at Schaumburg Christian School for the last 26 years, Simonton said.
LaDuke is married with four children and has grandchildren and great-grandchildren, according to his attorney, Irving Seidler.
Seidler said his client is somewhat confused by the allegations.
“I believe he has dementia or perhaps early stages of Alzheimer’s,” Seidler said.
Seidler also wondered why there was no outcry from others if LaDuke had been masturbating in school for a decade as prosecutors have alleged.
While there is no evidence that any students were inappropriately touched or physically harmed, any current or former students who may have information are asked to call police at (847) 882-3534.
