Parent fuming, but will await court ruling in orthodonist voyeurism case

BELLEVILLE -- The father of two teenage girls allegedly captured in videos by a retired Belleville orthodontist while receiving treatment at his former practise is enraged, but says the matter is now in the hands of the courts.

Troy Ward’s daughters are among a list of alleged female victims police said triggered a slew of sex-related charges against Anthony Garry Solomon, including possession of child pornography and voyeurism.

Ward had to maintain his composure when the sordid details were disclosed to him.

“I was irate,” Ward said, about being informed by police that his girls were allegedly videoed by the accused. “It was brought to my attention (by police) before hand. “My daughters were in videos of panning (a photographic technique).”

“I had to maintain my composure and talk to my girls. It’s never a good situation,” Ward said. “I had to tell them not to lose faith in humanity.”

Police say the retired 69-yearold, now residing in Toronto, has been under investigation since February 2017.

Police are accusing Solomon of inappropriately recording video of clients without their consent or knowledge, which they claim included both adults and children under the age of 18 among the recorded. The Belleville Police and Toronto Police Service attended an address in Toronto on July 12 to execute a search warrant.

Solomon was charged with; voyeurism – surreptitiously recording images of a person over the age of 18 years, voyeurism – surreptitiously recording images of a person under the age of 18 years, possession of child pornography and making child pornography.

Solomon was released from custody in Toronto with strict conditions. He is expected to appear in Belleville Court on Aug. 17.

“It is shocking but I have to be strong for my girls,” Ward said, adding his daughters would have been about 13 or 14 years of age (now 18) when they were receiving care from Solomon. “It is now up to the Crown and the police.”

“They had to have been going there for at least three years,” Ward said of his daughters. “I was in his office for one session and you just don’t think of that stuff. My girls were two of many.”

Class action litigation is a possibility.

“We will be proactive at some point, but we’re just sitting back and see what happens in the courts,” he said.

Officials with the Highland Shores Children’s Aid told Postmedia Network on Friday that Solomon provided dental care to many youth in care, but there is no confirmation any of them where exposed to inappropriate capturing of videos police are alleging in their case against Solomon.

“I don’t know the scope and frequency, but he was in the community for a period of time and children that we work with would have seen him,” said Tami Callahan, director of services Highland Shores Children’s Aid. “This is something that we’re reacting to.”

Police have not notified them of any of the children in care being harmed.

“When we place our trust in a professional in the community, we expect that our children are going to receive service and not be harmed,” Callahan. “I don’t have any information of any harm to our children. I don’t know how far along they are in their investigation.”