Teacher Accused of Sexually Abusing and Piercing Students - Updated

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[4/23/06 entry]
(McHenry, Illinois) A 32-year-old special education teacher at McHenry West High School, Laura Sieradzki, has been accused of having sex with a 17-year-old male student and piercing two female students' bodies in an "inappropriate area." I'm guessing it wasn't the cafeteria.

According to McHenry County Sheriff's Lt. Don Carlson, the investigation of Sieradzki was launched after a review of suspicious emails on the school's computer. Sieradzki faces specific charges of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault, two counts of piercing the body of a minor, and three counts of providing alcohol to a minor.

Sieradzki has been placed on administrative leave from her teaching position.


[Update 03/11/08]

In some sort of convoluted ruling, 34-year-old Laura Sieradzki has been sentenced.

Laura Sieradzki, 34, was sentenced to two years of probation in exchange for her guilty plea to criminal sexual abuse in a deal her attorney called "a reasonable resolution balancing the facts."

The former teacher also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for piercing another female student in what police called an inappropriate area about two weeks prior to the party. Her sentence on that case coincides with her sentence on the sex-abuse charge.

As part of the plea agreement, Judge Sharon Prather also imposed a 180-day jail sentence on Sieradzki, which she will have to serve only if she violates her probation. Sieradzki also was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, make a $200 donation to the Child Advocacy Center and a $100 donation to CrimeStoppers.

The former special education teacher was arrested in April 2006, about a month after she had sexual contact in a car with a 17-year-old student who was days away from his 18th birthday. The victim was a student at Sieradzki's school but not a student in her classroom.

"The victim was four days away from his 18th birthday, which would have made it not a crime," said Sieradzki's attorney, Mary Cay Marubio.

The age of 17 is typically the age of consent in Illinois, but Sieradzki was still charged with abusing a 17-year-old because she was in a position of authority as a teacher.

So, Sieradzki gets reduced charges and no jail but must pay fines. However, she will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years and loses her teaching license for 50 years. In any event, nowhere is it mentioned what is meant by piercing in an "inappropriate area" nor how Sieradzki had access to the area.