A longtime teacher at Schaumburg Christian School accused of fondling himself in class told authorities he had been fantasizing about students and engaging in such behavior for the past 10 years, a prosecutor said today.



But the teacher's attorney questioned the admission, saying the 75-year-old instructor, Paul LaDuke, 75, displays "some evidence of dementia" and seems "overwhelmed and somewhat confused" by his legal ordeal.



LaDuke -- who was fired from the school Friday, the day the alleged incident occurred and was reported to school officials by a student -- appeared in a courtroom in Rolling Meadows this morning on a felony charge of sexual exploitation of a child. His bail was set at $40,000.



LaDuke admitted to police he had been "masturbating while fantasizing about various students for the past 10 years," according to Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Dave Weiner.



LaDuke's attorney, Irving Seidler, questioned how any previous incidents could have gone unnoticed because, he said, no one has ever stepped forward to report such incidents before.



Schaumburg Christian School Administrator Jim Toth also said today that, before Friday, there was "no indication any of this was going on" and that there had never been a prior report of inappropriate behavior by LaDuke.



Toth said school officials were "shocked and saddened" by the arrest of LaDuke, whom Toth called "very well-liked" at the school.



Authorities said a student told a school official Friday that she had seen LaDuke appear to be masturbating behind his podium in his classroom, with his pants lowered, while students were present. LaDuke, of Hanover Park, was fired that day, police said.



Prosecutors said today that at least one other student witnessed the act and that an algebra class was in session when it occurred. They said there were 13 students, boys and girls, in the classroom at the time working on a math assignment. Nine of them were 16 years old and four of them 17.



Toth, the school administrator, said that LaDuke was immediately confronted after the student reported what she saw and that he was told to leave the premises while the claim was investigated.



Toth said LaDuke, who was wearing a smock over his clothing during the alleged incident, had first told school officials that he had simply unzipped his trousers to tuck in his shirt. Toth said school officials determined that was grounds enough to fire LaDuke.



Toth said the school continued its internal investigation throughout the weekend and, as additional indications emerged that LaDuke alleged actions were sexual in nature, school officials determined they had to involve police, who were contacted Monday.



Authorities said LaDuke submitted a handwritten confession. The court ordered him to have no contact with children and to stay away from schools if he is released from jail on bail.



LaDuke's attorneys said he has been married for 54 years and has four children, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. His wife, Marylen, attended the hearing.



Police said they had no evidence that LaDuke had inappropriately touched or physically harmed any student, though they asked current or former students or their parents who have information about the case to contact investigators.



LaDuke has been at the school since 1985, according to his Facebook page. His lawyers said he has been an ordained minister since 1969 and previously taught at a Christian school in Colorado.



George Houde is a freelance reporter; Kate Thayer is a staff reporter.

