Sentencing Again Delayed for Teacher Convicted in Sexual Abuse

The sentencing of a former  teacher has been delayed again.

Dale Fry's new attorney, Larry Wechter of Geneva, requested an extension for a post-trial hearing date Monday morning because he said he had not had adequate time to review the nearly 1,000 pages in documents from the case or his client's medical records. 

16^th Circuit Court Judge John A. Barsanti and Nemura Pencyla, Kendall County assistant state’s attorney, agreed to the extension, giving Wechter until Jan. 5 to ready himself for a post-trial hearing and possible sentencing. 

At the Jan. 5 hearing a date for a post-trial hearing likely will be set, Pencyla said. 

Fry is still being held in the Kendall County jail after his bond was revoked upon his conviction July 21.

The former language arts teacher was convicted on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of criminal sexual assault after engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student dating back to March 2009.

He was found guilty by Barsanti after a two-day bench trial that included testimony from the victim and a witness of one of the acts of abuse.

A relationship between Fry and the girl began in February 2009 on the girl’s 17th birthday when Fry obtained the girl’s cell phone number and began texting her, Pencyla said during closing arguments.

The relationship escalated when Fry kissed the girl in an elevator in the school in March 2009, prosecutors say. He kissed and fondled the girl’s breasts, again on school grounds, in May 2009, Pencyla said.

On Sept. 10, 2009, Fry forced the girl to perform a sex act after school in his classroom, Pencyla said. A school custodian walked in during the incident and said she witnessed Fry tucking in his shirt and buttoning his pants.

Fry told the custodian he and the girl had been placing items on a high shelf in the classroom and his shirt tail had become untucked.