Toronto elementary school teacher arrested in connection with sexual assault of child
Toronto Police Services (TPS) have arrested a local elementary school teacher in connection with an ongoing sexual assault investigation.
It is alleged that, between 2014 and 2016, a man worked in a Toronto home as a babysitter to a seven-year-old boy. During that time, the man allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulted the child.
According to police, the assaults occurred in residences in the O’ Connor Drive and St. Clair Avenue East area and the Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue area of Toronto.
Following an investigation, Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) officers arrested 41-year-old Toronto resident Gianni Jarman, formerly known as Gianni Pate, on Aug. 13.
Jarman is employed as a teacher with the Toronto District School Board at Secord Elementary School.
In a letter sent to parents and students, the school identified the teacher as John Jarman and said that he will remain on home assignment until the charges are proven in a court of law.
"Upon learning of the arrest, Mr. Jarman (Pate) was placed on home assignment and will not return to the school for the start of the school year pending outcome of the matter. These charges are unrelated to the school and to his duties as a teacher, do not involve any students at Secord ES and date back to 2015," Secord Elementary School principal, George Vlahos, said in the letter.
“While it is important to remember that laying criminal charges does not constitute guilt, and that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, we also cannot and do not take these allegations lightly. Safety is a top priority at TDSB schools and we are committed to enforcing policies about the well-being of our students."
Pate is being charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference and two counts of invitation to sexual touching.
He is scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on Sept. 17 at 9 a.m.
Investigators are asking anyone with information on the case to contact them at 416-808-2922.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The World Health Organization said on Friday that the current overall public health risk posed by H5N1 bird flu virus is low, but for those with exposure to infected birds or animals the risk of infection is considered low-to-moderate.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.