Lake Forest Teacher Accused of Sexually Assaulting Student

Arrest warrant issued for man police believe may have fled to Germany

The Lake County Sheriff's Department has issued an arrest warrant for a Lake Forest teacher charged with sexually assaulting a young student.

Michael R. Vucic, 41, is a teacher at Gavin South Middle School, and is believed to have fled to Germany, authorities say.

Police say the female victim, who is under the age of 13, told her grandparents that Vucic had inappropriate sexual contact with her multiple times in 2012.

Vucic is charged with five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and five counts of criminal sexual assault. Bond was set at $1 million for the arrest warrant.

"My office went out looking for him, and we received information from immigration and customs says he boarded a plane for Germany on Tuesday afternoon," Lake County Sheriff's Detective Wendell Russell said. "I think he figured out through Facebook, and that child was going to tell parents."

According to a letter to parents posted on the school district's web site, the victim is a former student at the middle school. Investigators first contacted school officials about Vucic on Aug. 26, but according to the school, Vucic wasn't present that day and hasn't had contact with any students since. He's also banned from school property.

Vucic, who is divorced, had been teaching at the school for 18 years and hadn't previously had any blemishes on his record.

Investigators believe there may be more victims and are encouraging anyone with information to contact the Lake County Sheriff's Department at (847) 549-5200.

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