Sentencing is ahead early next year for a one-time Burlington teacher after he pleaded no contest to sexually abusing two teenagers.
Michael Vander Linden, age 32, was originally 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. As part of an arraignment hearing Thursday, Vander Linden pleaded no contest to three aggravated indecent liberties counts. The remaining charges have been dismissed.
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.
Sentencing is Jan. 9 in Burlington. The current recommendation involves a durational departure so Vander Linden would get 36 months in prison, with two counts being served concurrently to the base count. If Vander Linden is consecutively instead of concurrently, or simultaneously, he would get anywhere from 13 years to almost 62 years in prison, as well as total fines of up to $900,000 and up to nine years of post-release supervision. Regardless, Vander Linden also has to register as a sex offender.
