Trial set for LCHS ex-teacher

A late summer trial is scheduled for a former Lake City High School science teacher who faces lewd conduct charges.

A two-week jury trial will begin Aug. 26 for Jeffrey L. Kantola, who is charged with lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16, and attempted lewd conduct, both felonies that can carry up to 15 years in prison.

Kantola, 48, chose not to enter a plea at his Friday arraignment in First District Court, so Judge Rich Christensen entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

According to court records, Kantola is accused of sexual misconduct with a 15-year-old girl on two occasions, once in February and once in March. In the first incident Kantola is alleged to have offered to pay the teen to take off her top and bra and allow Kantola to touch her. In the second incident Kantola allegedly fondled the girl, according to court records.

Kantola had been a teacher in the Coeur d’Alene School District for more than a year when parents learned that, before becoming a teacher, he had lost his Washington chiropractic license amid allegations of having sex with patients.

The accusations surfaced in October and Kantola was put on administrative leave. He received a $30,000 settlement after resigning in December.

Kantola was indicted by a grand jury earlier this year for the two felony sex charges. He was summoned into court and the case records were sealed until this month.

Kantola’s Washington chiropractic license was suspended after he admitted to having sexual relations with a patient and an employee. The license was revoked in 2004 after he failed to follow the terms of the suspension order. He was supposed to receive sexual rehabilitation treatment for at least two years, and he was not allowed to treat female patients unless a female chaperone was present.

Before being hired in Coeur d’Alene, Kantola taught for four years in Tennessee.

Kantola, who is not in custody, was assigned a public defender last week. His next court appearance is an Aug. 11 pretrial conference.