Lanark County OPP have charged 59-year-old David Giroux of Drummond-North Elmsley Township with six counts of sexual interference.
Giroux has been employed as a teacher by St. John Catholic High School in Perth.
According to an email sent out to parents and guardians by the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO), a complaint was made by a group of students on April 28th, 2022 about inappropriate behaviour by the accused. Giroux was removed from the school immediately, and a police investigation concluded no criminal wrongdoing had occurred.
On June 9th, 2022, an allegation was made involving the accused and was brought forward to the school. The allegation was immediately reported by the principal to both the police and Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville.
As a result of the investigation, police laid criminal charges of sexual interference.
This is the second teacher at St. John Catholic High School to be criminally charged with crimes which were sexual in nature, after former teacher Jeff Peters plead guilty to a charge of sexually assaulting one student, and a second guilty plea to sexual interference with another in June 2021.
The CDSBEO issued the release to inform parents and guardians that this is not the now retired teacher and Superintendent of Education with the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board with the same name.
Giroux has a Perth court date scheduled for January 16th.
If you or someone you know have been the victim of sexual violence please contact the Lanark County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. You can also seek support from Victim Services of Lanark County at 613-284-8380.
Story by Grant Deme
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