A former Chicago Public Schools security guard has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting two teenage students at her home, where she had invited one girl under the pretense of needing help caring for her husband, who was dying of colon cancer.
Heather Pancer, 49, of Hammond, Indiana, worked as a security officer at George Washington High School near the state line when the assaults took place between 2018 and 2020.
Pancer met the first student, who was 15, in September 2018 and invited her to her home, explaining that she needed help caring for her ailing husband and her autistic kid.
In October 2018, Pancer kissed the girl after they carved pumpkins at her house. The following day, while Pancer’s husband was motionless on the couch and her son was in another room, she allegedly took the girl to the basement and performed sex on her. Similar attacks allegedly happened in the basement and Pancer’s bedroom for months.
The victim, now in her early twenties, revealed the assault to her boyfriend early last year. He pushed her to report it to CPS, which resulted in investigations by the district’s inspector general and the Chicago Police Department.
During the CPD investigation, officers discovered that Pancer had shared a photo of herself in bed with another student, who was ultimately identified as the second victim. That student claimed authorities met Pancer while she was skipping class and talking to school security guards. Over the next year, Pancer allegedly invited her to her house numerous times to watch movies. According to prosecutors, Pancer attempted to kiss the girl during one visit. When the girl attempted to flee, Pancer threatened suicide, according to prosecutors.
The girl eventually went to Pancer’s home, where their relationship became sexual, lasting about a year before schools were closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to prosecutors.
According to court documents, Pancer pled guilty to two charges of criminal sexual assault involving a victim aged 13 to 17 by someone in a supervisory position. Judge Michael Clancy sentenced her to five years in jail on each offense, to be served consecutively.
According to state legislation, Pancer must serve 85% of her sentence, with her expected release date in April 2034.
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