6 Charged With Sex Assault at All-Boys School

Toronto's St. Michael's College calls assault 'simply horrific'
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 20, 2018 12:15 AM CST
6 Charged With Sexual Assault at All-Boys School
St. Michael's College principal Gregory Reeves arrives before speaking to reporters, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Toronto.   (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Police arrested six students from a prestigious private all-boys Catholic school in Toronto on Monday and charged them with sexual assault related to a video that was posted on the Internet. Toronto Police Inspector Dominic Sinopoli said the teens, who are all 14 and 15, are from St. Michael's College and were charged with assault, gang sexual assault, and sexual assault with a weapon. The high school is known for its sports programs and has produced many National Hockey League players over the years. Sinopoli said the school failed to notify police immediately and police became aware of the sexual assault through the media. Police are investigating at least three other hazing incidents, including another alleged sexual assault, the AP reports.

A 22-second video reviewed by the Toronto Star shows a boy being held down in a locker room and sexually assaulted with what appears to be a broomstick. The six students arrested appeared in court Monday and received bail. St. Michael's has expelled eight students and suspended another in connection with at least two other incidents that allegedly took place on campus and were captured on video. "The incidents of sexualized assault that happened to our students and on our school grounds are simply horrific," the school said in a statement. "These incidents are clearly indicative we have a problem. We need to do much better at our culture and our (students') ability to talk to us." The school's principal did not attend a police press conference because of a bomb threat at the school which caused students and faculty to be evacuated.

(More private schools stories.)

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