Ex-Orland Teacher Takes Plea Deal In Student Sexual Abuse Case

ORLAND PARK, IL — The former teacher at Jerling Junior High School in Orland Park accused of sexually abusing two teens accepted and pleaded guilty to lesser charges, taking a 24-month sex offender probation plea deal.

Cara Labus, 32, was arrested in January 2015 and accused of abusing two girls between the ages of 14 and 16 while she was a teacher and basketball coach at the school. She was initially charged with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

For the past five years, Labus has been under electronic home monitoring, an alternative to jail. Labus was credited for 2,141 days of monitoring, according to the court.

On Thursday, Labus appeared virtually in court, where Circuit Judge Kerry M. Kennedy agreed to amend the charges on behalf of the state judge, who negotiated an agreement to lessen the charges to aggravated battery, with a 24-month sex offender probation.

The assistant state's attorney said the decision came as Labus had no criminal background prior to the sexual abuse allegations. The former teacher does not have to register as a sex offender, according to the victim's attorney, Dominick Dolci.

Labus pleaded guilty to the aggravated battery charges, and also agreed to give up her right to a trial before a judge, hear the witnesses testify against her and explain her version of the story. Kennedy said if Labus violates her probation, she could face a year of "mandatory supervised release," similar to parole, and also be fined up to $25,000.

"You are a predator. You definitely took advantage of these two young ladies. They're 14 years old and suffering from the loss of their father and you just took advantage of it," Kennedy Told Labus in court. "You're on my probation now, and I'm sure (attorney) Ms. Moore explained to you how seriously I take my probation. You do not want to be back in front of me on a violation."

Statements read in court from the victims accused Labus of ruining their childhood and scarring them for life.

"She is not only a manipulative liar, mental, physical and emotional abuser, but she is a child sex offender, a pedophile," a statement from one victim read, adding they struggled with depression anxiety, anorexia and substance abuse during their high school and college careers.

"I have a hard time trusting people, and I have felt suicidal during the hardest times. A teacher and a coach is supposed to protect kids, not abuse them," the victim continued. "I feel at peace knowing children will be protected in the future from Cara's abuse. She is a danger to kids and a disgrace to society. Cara, you may have knocked me down, but you didn't break me. I am not a victim. I am a survivor."

The second victim's statement read in court accused Labus of taking advantage of them for being vulnerable after losing their father to suicide. The victim also said they suffer from "disturbing flashbacks."

"I actually thought you cared and wanted to help our family move forward during that difficult time. But I know now you were only there to target your next victims," the victim's statement read. "You are a sick sociopath who has no real or true emotions and feelings. I do not know how many victims there are, but one thing I do know is that you did not silence me. I will do everything in my power to protect any little boys and little girls from you. You destroyed my childhood."

When Kennedy asked Labus if she had any comments, but she declined. The mother of the victims told Patch she believes Labus did not get the sentencing she deserves.

"I think a life sentence ... I think a death sentence is what she should get," the mother said. "My husband just committed suicide ... I thought she was a teacher helping me. She manipulated the girls and drew them apart from me at the time we needed each other. She destroyed their lives and I'm just so proud of my girls for being strong."

The victims' attorney said his clients may not have gotten all of what they had hoped for in this case, but that they got the most important thing to them.

"She admitted to the conduct rather than just a stipulation ... she admitted in open court, on the record, that that's the conduct she engaged in. And for my clients, that was as important as anything else," Dolci said. "It had been so many years ... my clients just really had a desire to get closure and put this behind them. And that's what this plea agreement took care of ... justice, delayed is justice denied."