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.

Court records go on to say the charges stem from an incident on December 24, 2025. They said Meuser gave the minor snacks and money, discussed things of a sexual nature, exchanged emails with the minor using a personal email account, and invited the minor to his home when no one else was present for the purpose of sexual conduct.

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.