Durand High School Teacher Arrested in Sex Investigation

Back to News
Updated: 8:06 PM Oct 22, 2009 Durand High School Teacher Arrested in Sex Investigation 23 year old Durand High School teacher Jennifer Bland was arrested and charged with six counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. The charges involve more than one alledged male student victim. Posted: 6:57 PM Oct 22, 2009

Font Size:

- from a Winnebago County Sheriff's Office News Release -

On October 20, 2009 the Durand Illinois Police Department was contacted and advised of possible inappropriate sexual contact between a female teacher at Durand High School and a male student.. The Durand Department asked the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department to conduct a criminal investigation.

Sheriff’s Detectives initiated the investigation on 10-21-09 and reviewed that investigation with the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office.

As a result of that review, the teacher, 23yr old Jennifer Diane Bland (DOB 3-6-86) has been taken into custody and charged with six counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. She is lodged in the Winnebago County Jail, pending bond.

The charges involve allegations of sexual contact with more than one male student.

The charges against Ms Bland are merely allegations. She is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The investigation is on-going. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department Detective Bureau.

Latest Comments

Posted by: smalltownmom Location: near Durand on Nov 9, 2009 at 08:58 PM

Whatever, it's true that these kinds of things happen more in bigger cities, but it happens everyday here in small towns also. I volunteer at school quite a bit, and what i see going on is concerning to say the least. It's time we, as parents and citizens, start taking our share of the responsibility. Get involved parents! Go to school, spend some time with the people you are entrusting your children with. No, it's not going to prevent everything bad that could possibly happen, but it will definitely stop a lot of it. I have been disgusted for some time now by what I here coming out of the mouths of teachers when I walk down the hallway. I can't keep saying "thank God it's not my child being spoken to that way" and feel like I'm doing my part. We must stop turning a blind eye for fear of making waves, and I know I'm not the only one doing it. We've got to start somewhere. It really does "TAKE A VILLAGE". I'm willing to start doing my part. How about you?

Posted by: Whatever on Nov 6, 2009 at 11:46 AM

I think she deserves what she gets. Don't any of you realize that because of the fact Durand is a small town is the exact reason why we at found out about the allegations in the first place. As for the bigger school districts I'm sure this happens everyday. I pulled my kids out of the bigger school district because I was tired of the constant bullying and not only by the kids, but the teachers as well. I was tired of the teachers mistreating the kids and throwing their so called authority around. Kids were being called idiots and morons to their face in the classroom, But when you have 30 kids to a classroom and over 2,000 in a school I guess the teachers can do what they want and get away with it. I thank god for smaller school districts. I would rather be in a smaller school district that is all talk then a bigger school district where 10 fights a day are breaking out and teachers are the bullys. And who knows how may sexual encounters are taking place. Easy to hide.

Posted by: shh victoria on Nov 1, 2009 at 01:32 AM

hey Victoria your talking about the wrong mitch. You should probably read the first comment mitch posted. It says SENIOR! The mitch your talking about isn't. So you should probably watch what your saying about the Mitch with the sweater vest. He has nothing to do with this so i suggest you shut you pie hole.

Click here to post or read all 58 comments.