Former teacher in Madison County sentenced to prison for sexually abusing students

A former substitute teacher in Roxana School District 1 was sentenced Tuesday to 18 years in prison for sexually abusing three students.

Danielle C. Fischer, 32, of Edwardsville, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a class two felony, for sexually abusing three victims between May and June 2021 while she was a teacher at Roxana High School, according to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s office.

Both of the male victims were Fischer’s students and under the age of 18, the charging document say.

The Edwardsville Police Department investigated the case after being notified of the allegations against Fischer by Roxana police. A search warrant was served at Fischer’s home in the 400 block of Roanoke Drive on Feb. 1 and she was arrested at that time.

The Madison County State’s Attorney’s office filed charges in February 2022.

“This sentence should serve as a warning to those who use their positions of authority to prey upon our youths,” Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine said in the release. “This defendant will now serve many years in prison for these crimes, and of course, will never again hold the privilege of being a teacher.”

Fischer worked in the Roxana School District for the 2020-2021 school year and in Alton School District in 2022, according to previous reporting by the BND.

This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 5:36 PM.