Laurie Augustine, 42, was arrested in October 2002 at a mall where she expected to meet one of the students. She faces 40 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and aggravated criminal sexual assault that could lead to a minimum of 12 years in prison. The trial for Augustine, a divorced mother of six, was delayed several times for mental-health evaluations.
Lawyers for Augustine said in court June 10 that she is willing to plead guilty to one felony count for each student during her scheduled July 20 court appearance, according to the June 11 Arlington Heights Daily Herald. Under the agreement, she would be sentenced to eight years in prison with one year off for time served while awaiting trial.
Posted June 11, 2004.