Music teacher elects trial by provincial court judge

Roger James Jabbour faces 10 counts of sexual criminal offences against former students

A Charlottetown high school band teacher facing multiple charges stemming from alleged criminal sexual behaviour towards former students has elected trial with a provincial court judge.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Coady made the election Tuesday on behalf of his client, Roger James Jabbour, who did not appear in court.

The case was adjourned to Feb. 22 to set a date for trial with a joint counsel request for a late June or early July start.

There will actually be two trials, one right on the heels of the other.

The first trial will deal with eight counts — three sexual assault charges, three sexual interference charges and two sexual exploitation charges — arising from three complainants coming forward.

The second trial will deal with two counts of sexual exploitation arising from a fourth complainant.

All four complainants are female and were under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offences. Three were younger than 16 at the time of some of the alleged offences.

All four complainants currently live off-Island.

A publication ban prevents the release of any details that could identify the alleged victims.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred between April 1, 1991, and Feb. 2, 1992, as well as between Sept. 1, 2012 and Sept. 1, 2014.

Jabbour was released on an undertaking in September, which included a condition that kept him from going to Colonel Gray High School in Charlottetown, where he had been working.

In court on Dec. 21, Crown attorney Valerie Moore asked Douglas to change the undertaking to allow Jabbour to go to the school if he is accompanied and supervised by the principal or a Public Schools Branch administrator. Moore said the change was to allow Jabbour to collect his belongings.

The music teacher has been on leave from the high school for several months. Initially, parents and students were told it was because of a health issue.