Court proceedings are scheduled this week in the case of a former Coffey County teacher accused of sexually abusing two teenagers several years ago.
Michael Vander Linden was originally set for arraignment last month, but he now has a hearing at 1:45 pm Thursday. The Kansas District Court Public Access Portal lists arraignment and a possible plea as part of Thursday’s appearance.
A Kansas State Department of Education Horizon Award winner for being an exemplary first-year teacher while at Burlington High in 2017, Vander Linden was arrested this past 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.
