Sian Zorns Kuester
MARION CO., Ill. - The woman formerly teaching Special Ed at South Central High School in Kinmundy last year - but was sidelined in October with a sex-related charge - has been convicted and sentenced in Marion County Circuit Court.
The plea was entered today (Wednesday, August 2) by Sian Zorns Kuester, 36, of Salem, whom regular readers will recall from this article here at the website, and this more extensive and somewhat jaw-dropping article at the e-Edition/in print.
Kuester was charged October 31, 2016 with Manufacture of Harmful Material, in which it was alleged she had sent sexually explicit photos and video of herself to a student, who was 18 at the time. While 18 is a consenting age in Illinois, because of our laws about sex offenders, if the victim is an 18-year-old and the perp is a person in a position of trust, supervision or authority over the teen, that makes it illegal.
The print article outlined how Kuester had been ordered by the school board initially to stop having contact with the kid, and she refused.
They also hadn't terminated her right away, but instead before charges were filed, she was suspended without pay for five days.
Fortunately after that, she simply didn't return to the school. It's since been noted that she was placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the court case.
The sentencing happened at a regularly-scheduled pretrial conference today. Kuester entered her guilty plea to the Class 4 (lowest level) felony, and received 30 months probation, 180 days in jail and fines and fees in the amount of $2,702, none of which has been paid.
The jail sentence is stayed until Kuester undergoes a mental health evaluation, as well as any further suggested treatment. She's also prohibited from having contact with kids under the age of 18 except for her own two young ones.
Incidentally, her divorce, for which she filed last July, is still working its way through the court system.