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 guard at George Washington High School near the state line when the assaults occurred between 2018 and 2020.
Pancer developed a relationship with the first student, who was 15, in September 2018 and invited her to her home, saying she needed help caring for her ailing husband and her son, who has autism.
In October 2018, Pancer kissed the girl after they carved pumpkins at her home. The next day, while Pancer’s husband was immobile on the couch and her son was in another room, Pancer allegedly took the girl to the basement and committed sex acts on her. Similar attacks allegedly continued in the basement and Pancer’s bedroom over the following months.
The victim, now in her early 20s, disclosed the abuse to her boyfriend early last year. He encouraged her to report it to CPS, prompting investigations by the district’s inspector general and the Chicago Police Department.
During the CPD investigation, detectives learned that Pancer had circulated a photo of herself in bed with another student, who was later identified as a second victim. That student told police she met Pancer while skipping class and talking with school security guards. Over the following year, Pancer allegedly invited her to her home several times to watch movies. Prosecutors said Pancer attempted to kiss the girl during one visit. When the girl tried to leave, Pancer threatened to kill herself, prosecutors said.
The girl later returned to Pancer’s home, and their relationship became sexual, continuing for about a year until the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools, prosecutors said.
Court records show Pancer pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sexual assault involving a victim between 13 and 17 years old by a person in a supervisory position. Judge Michael Clancy sentenced her to five years in prison on each count, with the terms to be served consecutively.
Under state law, Pancer must serve 85% of her sentence, putting her projected release date in April 2034.
