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Police Charge 14 More Students With Harassing, Sexually Assaulting Student

Posted on: Monday, 14 November 2005, 21:00 CST

By GREG BONNELL

TORONTO (CP) - Fourteen students were handcuffed and escorted by police from the hallways of their school Monday amid allegations a teenage girl endured months of harassment and sexual assault at the Catholic secondary school.

In all, 16 students have been arrested, 14 of whom are young offenders. They face charges of sexual assault, assault, forcible confinement and uttering threats after a 16-year-old girl came forward last week to school officials.

Parents of those arrested descended in protest on the police station where their children were being held, while fellow students challenged the allegations as false.

Nevertheless, police officials were adamant the charges against the 16 youths were well founded.

"We are not going to lay charges like this . . . with minimal information with minimal investigation evidence," said Insp. Tom McIlone.

"We have conducted an investigation. There are a number of issues that we looked at, including her evidence and other evidence. We believe that this in fact took place."

The girl, then 15, allegedly endured 18 months of sexual assaults and harassment while attending James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School. The school's students include teens from the notorious Jane-Finch area of Toronto, a pocket of the city that has been plagued by a wave of gang violence in recent months.

The incidents allegedly began during the second or third week of school last year.

In addition to the prolonged harassment, it's alleged the victim was approached by a male student last month and forced into a stairwell. The girl was sexually assaulted and was then forced into a washroom where the assault continued, the police said.

Last Wednesday, a 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with sexual assault, assault, forcible confinement and breach of probation. The following day, a 15-year-old boy was arrested.

On Monday, police descended on the school while students were in class and school staff collected the 14 suspects. The teens, two of them girls, were then handcuffed by the police and taken to the local detachment.

Twelve male students at the school have been charged with criminal harassment, and the two female students have been charged with threatening bodily harm.

Parents of the accused were outraged.

"The school board (has a) zero tolerance (policy). How come we didn't know this was going on for 18 months?" said the mother of one the 16-year olds charged.

"None of the principals, teachers called us to say your son is harassing someone. How come I never got that call?" said the 31-year old.

"For them to come now and just slap a charge on him is unbelievable."

The 14 students facing the latest charges were to remain in police custody overnight and were to appear in court Tuesday.

Source: Canadian Press

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