WABASH CO., Ill.—The plague of educators being accused of sexual abuse of students continues in southern Illinois with a recent arrest of a Wabash County woman.
Kirby J. Cheesman, 28, the daughter-in-law of Mt. Carmel High School principal Pat Cheesman, was arrested Thursday, October 23, 2014, following a charge filed in Wabash County against her of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse.
This charge came about after a tip came in to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) on their hotline anonymously, this about a month ago. The charge specified that Cheesman is accused of fondling a 16-year-old male student. While we’ve not been told who the victim or what his status in the school is, it might be noted at this juncture that Cheesman is a Special Education instructor.
The alleged incident is said to have occurred between January 1 and September 1 of 2014. The count was filed as a Class 2 felony.
Wabash District #348 Superintendent Tim Buss has issued the following statement following Cheesman’s arrest:
“We were shocked to learn that one of our Mt. Carmel High School special education teachers, Kirby Cheesman, was being investigated for inappropriate behavior with a student and that she now has been arrested and charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse following an investigation by Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
DCFS began an investigation about a month ago based on a tip that agency received on its hotline. When we were informed by DCFS that they were launching an investigation, we immediately put the teacher on administrative leave pending results of the investigation and she has had no contact with any of our students since that time. Further disciplinary actions are pending and will be taken according to our school district policy.
The safety and welfare of our students is the top priority in our school district. All school district employees must pass a thorough background check. We are cooperating fully with the investigation. Because it involves an ongoing criminal investigation, we cannot comment further on this case at this time.”
Cheesman has been set for a November 10 appearance in Wabash County Circuit Court.