New Pre-Trial Date Set In Culver Case

A new trial date has been set for former Lake Zurich High School teacher Ronald D. Culver, who is facing charges accusing him of criminal sexual abuse of two students.

The new trial date is July 18. A fifth pre-trial hearing is also set for July 5.

At one of several pre-trial hearings for the case May 24 in 19^th District Lake County Circuit Court, Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Fred Day and Culver's defense attorney Stephen Simonian requested and held a conference with Judge Daniel B. Shanes. Subsequently, the new trial dates were set.

Culver, 51, a former Lake Zurich High School drama teacher, is charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of two Lake Zurich High School students, according to Lake Zurich police.

In court, Judge Shanes explained to Culver that he would meet with both attorneys and hear things about the case that he wouldn’t “ordinarily hear.”

Culver answered “yes” when Shanes asked if he agreed to the conference.

Simonian and Day met with Shanes later in the morning.

“It was a productive conference,” Day said. “We want to speak with the families before we take any further steps.”

“This is just another part of the pre-trial process,” Simonian said.

The charges against Culver are Class 2 felonies. The students' identities and genders are not being released. If convicted on any of the 10 counts, Culver could face three to seven years in prison.

Culver has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

Lake Zurich police arrested Culver Oct. 29. He was charged with aggravated sexual abuse against one student. He immediately resigned from Lake Zurich High School, where he taught English and drama. Shortly thereafter, a second student came forward and made a similar claim, according to Lake Zurich police.

Culver posted $25,000 bond, 10 percent of his total bond of $250,000, after his arrest.