The former one-time Burlington High School teacher accused of sex crimes against teenagers will be back in court late next month.
Michael Vander Linden had his latest appearance in Coffey County District Court for a status hearing Wednesday morning. Following the hearing, Vander Linden was set for another status hearing at 11 am July 31 before Judge Kara Reynolds.
Vander Linden was arrested back in February and is facing eight counts of aggravated indecent liberties, five for alleged activity with one teenager between October 2012 and early April 2013 and three against a second teen between May and August 2013. Vander Linden was employed at Burlington High School as both a teacher and wrestling coach at the time of his arrest.
He was a Kansas State Department of Education Horizon Award winner for being an exemplary first-year teacher while at Burlington High in 2017.
