Child to Teacher Who Raped Her: 'You Are Not Human at All'

A former middle school teacher who sexually assaulted two students has been sentenced.

Michael Vucic, 42, of Lake Forest pleaded guilty to two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault two months ago and was handed a 50-year prison sentence by Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes on Thursday, according to the Chicago Tribune. Vucic, a former teacher at Gavin South Middle School in Ingleside, had been accused of committing sexual acts with two female students, one of whom was 13 at the time of the incident and videotaping them.

Both victims gave impact statements in court, one through an advocate.

“It ruined me,” one girl said. “He damaged me mentally and emotionally.”

“You are not human at all. … You left me with unbearable sadness,” the other said to Vucic.

Vucic, who sparked an international manhunt after his then-alleged crimes became known and was found in Bosnia, also spoke in court.

“Anyone who knows me knows I can’t purposely hurt another human being,” he said. “I am very remorseful for my actions and will forever be sorry to the individuals and their families. I am hoping for the forgiveness of God and everyone affected by this.”

During his tearful apology, Vucic also claimed the sex was consensual - a claim that angered Shanes.

“You told me that actions were consensual. Understand that this was all you,” the judge told Vucic. “The law has funny names for these crimes, but there is a perfectly good English word for what you did: rape. This was not consensual.”

more via the Chicago Tribune