ST. MICHAEL’S INVESTIGATION
Six teens arrested and charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault at all-boys private school in Toronto
TORONTO — Six students of St. Michael’s College School have been released on bail after being charged with assault and sexual assault offences in a spiralling scandal over a series of incidents at the prestigious all-boys private school.
Five students turned themselves in to police and one was arrested on his way to school, Deputy Chief James Ramer and Insp. Dominic Sinopoli of the sex crimes unit told reporters at a Monday morning news conference at Toronto police headquarters.
The six boys have each been charged with assault, gang sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon, Sinopoli said.
Their charges are all in relation to a single incident that was captured on video and posted to social media depicting an alleged sexual assault of a teen boy.
The 22-second video, which has been viewed by the Star, shows the teen held down by a group of boys in a locker room while he is allegedly sexually assaulted with what appears to be a broomstick.
The boys are all younger teens, and cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The bail hearing and the identity of the complainant are also covered by a sweeping publication ban.
As the graphic allegations were read out in a small Toronto courtroom Monday afternoon, some of the parents of the accused teens began crying. The teens appeared distraught and hunched forward in the prisoners’ box as Crown Erin McNamara described what allegedly occurred. Two shook their heads at certain points.
All six were released with the consent of the Crown with their parents as sureties. Two of the teens were released on $7,000 bail, with the other four on $5,000 bail. Their conditions of release include not contacting or being near the complainant, not going to St. Michael’s College and only using social media with the “direct and constant supervision” of their sureties.
Police are also investigating at least three other incidents at the school, one an alleged sexual assault and two alleged assaults.
There are “a minimum of four victims,” Sinopoli said.
“We also know there are several videos being circulated,” said Sinopoli, adding police are concerned the videos may still be being shared online.
Police have warned that anyone in possession of the alleged sex assault video should delete it immediately because it meets the definition of child pornography.
The Roman Catholic school expelled eight students and suspended another one in connection with at least two incidents that allegedly took place on campus and were captured on video.
Late last week, the alleged sex assault video and another video began circulating on social media sites.
The Star also viewed the second, 49-second video, shot in the boys’ washroom. It shows a young boy in his underwear — he appears not to be physically injured — placed in a large sink by other boys, who splash water on him and slap him.
At a late afternoon news conference at the school, principal Greg Reeves told reporters it’s clear St. Mike’s has “a serious problem.”
“As a school we have a responsibility to keep our students safe, but our collective best efforts, have failed,” he said.
The school has announced an independent third-party investigation into its culture.