HAMILTON COUNTY — A former Hamilton County High School teacher was arrested Thursday after a grand jury indicted him for official misconduct.

Chad Payne was arrested Thursday morning on two Class 2 felony counts of official misconduct. Payne, who was a vocational arts teacher at Hamilton County High School in McLeansboro, was recently fired by the Hamilton County Unit 10 school board following accusations of inappropriate conduct with a student. He was walked out the high school on March 30.

The school board held a special meeting on April 21 to discuss Payne’s status. Board members voted unanimously at that meeting to fire him and to terminate his salary and benefits effective that day.

School Superintendent Jeff Fetcho says Payne has until next week to request a due process hearing on his dismissal, but Fetcho says no request has been made at this time.

Hamilton County State’s Attorney Justin Hood says Payne was released from jail after posting $25,000 bond with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Illinois State Police continue to investigate. A final report will be released by the Hamilton County State’s Attorney’s office when the investigation is complete.