Former Paxton-Buckley-Loda teacher, Hall of Famer charged with sexual assault

PAXTON, Ill. (WAND) - A former teacher with the Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District faces felony sexual assault charges.

In a letter to families, the PBL Superintendent said that driver's ed teacher Paul Meuser was put on administrative leave on March 8, pending a Ford County investigation into "inappropriate communications with a minor."

The letter added that Meuser resigned during a March 11 Board of Education meeting.

Ford County court records show that Meuser was arrested on March 15 on two counts of attempted criminal sexual assault and one charge involving a victim under 18.

Meuser is being held on a flight in Oklahoma to avoid a prosecution charge.

According to the PBL Education Foundation, Meuser was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2024.