Ex-teacher charged with molesting four students
A legendary high school basketball coach and longtime teacher has been charged with sexually molesting four students more than three decades ago.
Donald Greenham, 73, is accused of gross indecency and indecent assault against the four students between 1970 and 1982 while he was employed as a teacher and coach in the Ottawa school system. The three male students and one female student were between 14 and 17 years old at the time of the alleged offences, Ottawa police said
Greenham’s hands were cuffed in front of him when he appeared in an Ottawa court Monday afternoon by video from the courthouse cellblock.
Greenham will spend at least two more days in jail after the Crown wasn’t prepared to consent to his release. Prosecutor James Bocking said police were still completing their investigation and the Crown was waiting to learn if more charges may be laid.
He is expected to return to court on Wednesday.
At the time of the alleged offences, Greenham was the coach of the Bell Bruins boys’ basketball team. His junior and senior high school teams compiled a 388-35 won-lost record and captured a combined five Carleton board, five Ottawa-Carleton board and three senior regional championship titles. Greenham’s teams also made three OFSAA provincial championship appearances.
He retired as a coach in 1982. At the time, the Citizen reported that he was a teacher at Greenbank Senior Public School. During his career, Greenham also taught at Bayshore Public School and worked as a guidance counsellor at Greenbank Middle School.
Greenham’s son, Scott, is an Ottawa Senators goaltender prospect who plays with the Binghamton Senators.
Police said the investigation began on June 20 when one of the complainants came forward to report the alleged abuse. Police believe more complainants could come forward.
Police said Greenham is facing 14 charges, including gross indecency, indecent assault on a male and indecent assault on a female. Those were the charges that existed in the Criminal Code at the time of the alleged offences.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa police sexual assault and child abuse unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or by downloading the Ottawa police app.