Substitute Teacher Arrested For Rubbing Genital Area In Presence Of Students

A 29-year-old substitute teacher at a school in Chicago, Illinois, has been arrested and charged for allegedly rubbing his genital area in the presence of underage students late last year.

James Ruml, of Chicago, was charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child over the incident, which allegedly happened on Nov. 16, 2021, in the 4100 block of North Marine Drive, where Walt Disney Magnet School is located, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Ruml was acting as a substitute teacher for a writing class that day when three 11-year-old students watched as the teacher “leaned back in his chair, stretched his legs wide open and began touching his genital area,” Cook County prosecutors said during a livestreamed bail hearing Saturday.

Ruml then got up and walked around the classroom before stopping in a corner of the room where he continued touching himself, prosecutors said.

The 29-year-old teacher was fully clothed the entire time, according to prosecutors.

Two days later, the students informed another teacher about the alleged incident. The school immediately notified police, prosecutors said.

Ruml eventually turned himself in on Thursday, and his bail was set at $75,000. While his case is pending, the man has been barred from contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Ruml is due back in court on Feb. 3.

The attorney of Ruml, Joseph Cavanaugh, said his client has been a CPS substitute for three years. The lawyer added that there were no accusations that Ruml exposed himself or made any attempt to touch the students.

In related news, a 22-year-old substitute teacher in Jasper County, Missouri, was arrested last month over her alleged sexual relationship with a student.

Jacey Bayne Collins of Aldrich, Missouri, worked as a full-time substitute teacher in the Golden City School District. She was arrested on Dec. 9, 2021, following an investigation carried out by Jasper and Barton County Sheriff’s Office, KOAM reported.

During a forensic interview, the male victim said that he had a sexual relationship with Collins. The student also confirmed that the 22-year-old came to his home in Golden City in February last year when his parents were not home.

The victim told authorities they had intercourse, and after, she would continue communicating with him through text messages, according to court documents.