Ex-Lake Bluff Teacher Turns Himself In On Lewd Exposure Charge

WAUKEGAN, IL — A former teacher at Lake Bluff schools, charged Friday with a 32-year-old sex crime, turned himself in Monday at Lake County Jail. Charles Ritz was ordered held on $100,000 bail on one misdemeanor charge of public indecency/lewd exposure, according to court records.

Last week, the Lake County State's Attorney's office announced the charge against Ritz was related to an incident that occurred in May 1985.

Ritz was a junior high teacher and coach in Lake Bluff School District 65 between 1975 and 1985.

After facing abuse allegations from students, he resigned with $22,392 in compensation and moved to southern California.

Ritz was formally accused of sexual misconduct by at least four students in 1985, according to school records and police reports obtained by the Orange County Register. Records show Lake Bluff School District 65 contacted lawyers and insurance officials at the time, out of concern for possible lawsuits from Ritz or students, the Register reported last year.

The following year, he was hired as a teacher in Orange County and went on to serve as a union president at Fullerton Joint Union High School District, where there were no records of complaints against him when he retired in May of last year, according to the Register.

After learning that Ritz was still teaching, several of his formal students came together via social media and shared stories of abuse online and at school board meetings in an attempt to encourage Illinois law enforcement authorities to take legal action.

As an increasing number of former students, many now in their middle age, came forward to publicly accuse Ritz of sexual misconduct, Lake County investigators opened an investigation last year and interviewed more than 50 witnesses from Florida to California, according to the Lake County State's Attorney's office.

An attorney for Ritz released the following statement Friday, according to WLS:

This is a witch hunt. The State of Illinois has spent inordinate resources canvassing this country in an attempt to pin something, anything, on Mr. Ritz. To justify this expenditure, they had to file something and went with a misdemeanor. Once the facts themselves are considered, Mr. Ritz fully expects to be exonerated.

Also Friday, in a statement, the Lake Bluff District 65 board said it "remains deeply saddened by the painful events described by former students of Charles Ritz," and that it is "hopeful that Charles Ritz will be swiftly brought to justice and held accountable for his actions."

The board's statement added:

The District cooperated fully with law enforcement officials in their investigations and released to them all documents related to Ritz, his employment in the District and his interactions with students, including personnel records, notes, and memos. We will continue to cooperate throughout the criminal prosecution of Ritz.

Looking forward, we will remain vigilant in our duty as a School Board to provide a safe and supportive environment for learning. We will continue to share updates on our assessment of current policies and procedures at future public Board meetings and in directed communications to our parents, staff and community.

Ritz's next court appearance has been scheduled for June 22. The terms of his bond allow for Ritz to travel to California or to Wisconsin, according to WLS.

Related:

• Ex-Lake Bluff teacher charged in 1985 sex crime
• Lake Bluff superintendent sends open letter regarding sexual abuse accusations
• Former Lake Bluff teacher investigated for sexual abuse of students

Photo: Charles Ritz | Lake County Sheriff's Department