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Female teacher faces sex assault charge
The Toronto Star
Woman accused of fondling girl, 17
Student-teacher messages probed
A female Mississauga high school teacher has been charged in the sexual assault of a female student.
Police sources said the charges involve the alleged fondling of a 17-year-old girl who was taught by the woman at Streetsville Secondary School.
The two are also alleged to have had sexually explicit communications over the Internet.
Police sources said the alleged sexual liaison came to light when the victim's parents contacted authorities.
Peel's Special Victims Unit charged the 36-year-old language teacher on Friday following a brief investigation.
The teacher has since been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the criminal case against her.
Students writing on the website ratemyteachers.ca described the French teacher as having "the coolest hairstyle" and being a "cool" and "fun" teacher who told students she never wanted kids because her students were "so loud and obnoxious."
Students who submitted comments to the site gave her an overall rating of 4 out of 5, one of the highest ratings for all teachers at the school.
"She's a totally cool teacher, so funny and her classes are fun," one student said on the site.
Another student said the teacher was "extremely nice" - generous with marks - and makes people willing to try to participate."
School principal Brian Landriault yesterday sent a letter home with students, telling their parents that a teacher had been charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation and that the teacher had been sent home pending the outcome of charges against her.
"As principal of the school, I want you to know that I take the safety and well being of every student very seriously," he wrote in the letter. The Ontario College of Teachers is now conducting its own investigation, as it is legally required to do once a school board has been notified of such an incident. In addition to facing criminal charges, the teacher, if convicted, could also be stripped of her teaching licence.
The teacher, who lives in a basement apartment in the Streetsville community, left her residence late yesterday afternoon and drove away.
All of the allegations involve offences that allegedly occurred outside school property, police said.
Police are continuing their investigation and anyone who has information is asked to contact the squad at 905-453-2121 ext. 3460 or Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Leslie Merlino, 36, of Mississauga is charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation. She is to make her first appearance in a Brampton court on Nov. 20.
The article copied from Toronto Star
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