Teacher at Port Hope private school charged with sexual assault
BELLEVILLE – A complaint by a former student at Port Hope’s Trinity College School has resulted in charges of sexual assault against a longtime TCS teacher.
The female former student filed the complaint last week about an alleged inappropriate relationship, the Port Hope Police said in a news release Thursday morning.
On Monday, the police started a criminal investigation into the student’s allegations of sexual encounters and an inappropriate relationship that occurred on and off the school property in 2011.
The suspect turned herself in to the police station on Wednesday. The 54-year-old woman, of Peterborough, was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation and sexual assault.
Trinity College School is a co-educational private boarding and day school established in 1865. The cost to attend the school ranges from about $23,000 a year for day students in Grades 5 and 6 to $52,450 for boarding students in Grades 10 to 12, and more for international students. The student population is about 550.
The teacher who has been charged was in the school’s social-science department, and had taught there since 1995, TCS communications director Ashley DiNova told QNet News Thursday afternoon.
The teacher has been placed on leave, the school said in a press release Thursday.
“This is a difficult and highly unusual situation for our school community,” the press release said. “We have clear policies on appropriate conduct and we will continue to ensure these policies are communicated, understood and enforced.”
It also said that the school has contacted employees, parents and students offering counselling to those who want it.
The name of the teacher who has been charged was not to be found in the faculty and directory listings on the school’s website Thursday.
The teacher was held in custody until a hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the Cobourg Courthouse.
The Port Hope Police say the investigation is ongoing, and are are asking anyone with information to call them at 905-885-8123.
Print This Post
