Published: November 02, 2007 10:42 pm         

Teacher charged with having sex with student

PARIS, IL — A Paris, Ill., high-school teacher was charged Thursday with criminal sexual assault after police arrested him for having sex with a 17-year-old student.

Fred W. Fischer, 28, who taught math at Paris High School, appeared in Edgar County (Ill.) Circuit Court on Thursday for an initial appearance and bail hearing. Fischer posted $3,500 bail and was released.

Paris Police Detective Sgt. Jeff Goodwin said the sexual relationship with the 17-year-old student appeared to be consensual, but is illegal. The legal age of consent in Illinois is 17, but because Fischer “held a position of authority over her, the legal age of consent then becomes 18,” according to Goodwin.

Paris police were notified Oct. 25 by the Department of Children and Family Services after the Paris Union School District 95 contacted that department, Goodwin said.

Fischer, who does not have any criminal history that police could find, was quickly suspended from employment.

The next court date for Fischer is Nov. 26.