Accused Teacher Can't Stay Out of Jail

By Prescott Carlson in News on Sep 18, 2009 9:35PM

You know that teacher we told you about the other day that was accused of paying students for odd jobs by giving them booze, pot, and Zoloft? She's been arrested again.

Kym Krocza, an algebra teacher at north suburban Grant High School, was out on bond after being charged with providing alcohol, marijuana, and anti-depressants to two 14-year-old girls that had been over to her house. Instead of just laying low and waiting for her court date, she got herself arrested again after cops say she was harassing the parents that tipped off the sheriff's office which led to her first arrest. The Lake County Sheriff's Department claims that Krocza parked her car and left it in front of the alleged victims house yesterday, blocking the driveway so no cars could get in and out. When Krocza was contacted by deputies to move her car, she was slapped with the harassment charge. The new charge resulted in her bond being doubled, and it now totals $100,000.

In an interview with WLUP's Jonathan Brandmeier yesterday morning, Krocza claimed innocence and said that while she does frequently have students over to her house (one is a next-door neighbor), the charges were "crazy," and that it's all "like a game of telephone." She also said her frequent trips to Amsterdam probably fueled the rumor that she has a steady supply of marijuana at her house. But Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran tells a different story:

"We have the statement where she admitted to [giving alcohol, marijuana and Zoloft to the teens]," Curran said. "Somehow, this is being spun out there that there isn't much there. But, it was publicly stated in bond court that there is a two-page written confession that she did this."

Krocza could be sentenced to six years in jail if found guilty of the original counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, and three to seven years for the harassment charge. Sheriff Curran said that additional charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.