RF man charged with assault on student

Michael Wetzell

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A former Rock Falls police officer turned high school educator is accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old student in downstate Litchfield.

Michael Wetzell, 31, is dean of students at Litchfield High School, roughly 55 miles northeast of St. Louis. Montgomery County prosecutors have charged him with criminal sexual assault and providing alcohol to a minor.

The assault charge alleges that Wetzell, who lists his home address in Rock Falls, had sexual relations with a girl 13 to 18 years old in an apartment near the school on March 17. He was charged on March 27, turned himself into the Litchfield Police Department and was released on $100,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is April 17 in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

A phone call to Wetzell was not returned on Wednesday.

Litchfield School Superintendent Michael Juenger has placed Wetzell on unpaid leave. The school board meets Tuesday to determine whether it will take further action.

Wetzell was hired in August, but in February he resigned, effective at the end of the school year, because his family wanted to move back to Rock Falls. They moved back, while Wetzell stayed behind to finish out the year.

Rumors about a relationship between the girl and Wetzell surfaced in January. School officials investigated but found no evidence of an inappropriate relationship, and Wetzell denied the accusations, Juenger said.

Two concerned students called school officials and the police at 8 p.m. March 17, when they saw the 17-year-old “go to a place she shouldn’t be, doing something she shouldn’t be doing, and were concerned about her welfare and safety,” Litchfield Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson said.

According to the Whiteside County Regional Office of Education, Wetzell became a certified substitute teacher in December 2003 and received a teaching certificate in March 2004. He is certified to teach physical education, social studies, language arts, business, marketing and computer education.

Before working in Litchfield, Wetzell was a Rock Falls police officer from December 1999 to August 2001. He left the force to become an educator. He became a physical education teacher in the Annawan School District, about 20 miles south of Prophetstown. He taught there for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years and served as an assistant football coach.

“He was considered a satisfactory beginning teacher and coach,” said Joe Buresh, Annawan’s superintendent.

Wetzell left to become the dean of students at the 490-student Litchfield High, where he was in charge of student discipline and attendance.

Reach Joseph Bustos at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 529.