A Rolling Meadows judge set bond at $40,000 Wednesday for a northwest suburban teacher who allegedly masturbated while teaching class, a practice authorities believe may have happened several times in the last decade.
Attorneys for Paul A. LaDuke, 75, of the 1000 block of Court-H in Hanover Park said the wife of the former high school math teacher at Schaumburg Christian School was trying to raise the money for her husband's bond.
The State Attorney's office said LaDuke put an apron during his 10 a.m. algebra class on Friday, and then removed his pants and began masturbating. Prosecutors said he made a written admission that he had been doing it for 10 years, fantasizing about students in his class.
"He show some signs of dementia. Sometimes you start believing what you're told," said Frank Furlett, LaDuke's defense attorney. "All we are doing is entering a plea of not guilty."
On Friday, a student reported to a teacher they saw LaDuke masturbating while seated at his podium, police said.
The teacher notified the school administration, which initiated an internal investigation that resulted in Laduke’s termination on Friday afternoon, a release said. School officials then contacted Schaumburg police on Monday.
LaDuke taught 9th grade geometry honors and alegbra; 10th grade algebra II; and 11th and 12th grade algebra II and trigonemtry-pre calculus, according to the school’s website.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 7 at 9 a.m.
