RCMP lay charges against Charles Hays Secondary School teacher

"Our superintendent is conducting an investigation for the district alongside the RCMP conducting their investigation," she said. "We're all obviously very concerned and await the conclusion of the investigation."--School District 52 board of education chair Tina Last

It's the kind of news that will once again shake the staff, students and parents of those who attend Charles Hays Secondary. As another instructor at the east side high school has been charged with sexual exploitation offences by the RCMP. The latest charges which were made on December 22nd, mark the second time in a year, that an instructor at the east side high school will appear in court over alleged sexual exploitation.
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Dana Allison Monteith, a 37-year-old physics teacher at Charles Hays Secondary School, was arrested December 22nd and appeared before a justice of the peace on December 23, to face three counts of sexual exploitation of a young person. He was released under a number of stringent conditions and will make his next court appearance on January 14th.
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In the interim as the investigations continue, the court has ordered a publication ban on the names of the witnesses and alleged victims.

The most recent alleged incidents leading to charges, are reported to date back to 2005, with some as current as July of this year.

Prior to this weeks arrest, the school district and staff of Charles Hays were working their way through the impact of the arrest of a special needs teacher at the school last March on various charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation.

School District 52 board of education chair Tina Last (quoted at the top of this page) told the Vancouver Province that the school board and the RCMP are looking into the most recent allegations.

The story first began to make news on Christmas day, as various news services provided brief mention of the charges and incidents.

Wednesday's Vancouver Province featured more background on the story on page A13.

That story and links to other news sites can be found below, as well as the information released by the Prince Rupert RCMP on the provincial website:

Vancouver Province (Dec 26)--Second teacher arrested at Prince Rupert school
Opinion 250--(Dec 26)--Prince Rupert Teacher Back To Court Charged With Sexual Exploitation
Globe and Mail(Dec 24)--High school teacher in Prince Rupert faces sex charges involving students
Vancouver Sun (Dec 24)--Prince Rupert teacher charged with inappropriate sexual behaviour
Vancouver Province (Dec 25)--Prince Rupert teacher facing sex charges involving students

Second teacher arrested at Prince Rupert school
Sex-exploitation charges against 37-year-old man
Jennifer Saltman
The Province
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Page A13

A Prince Rupert school where a special-education teacher was the subject of sex-abuse allegations in March has been hit again.

Dana Allison Monteith, a 37-year-old physics teacher at Charles Hays Secondary School, was arrested Dec. 22 and charged the next day with three counts of sexual exploitation of a young person.

Police say the school contacted the local RCMP detachment on Dec. 20 to report an incident of inappropriate sexual behaviour involving a teacher.

The allegations involve both current and former students and the alleged incidents are said to have occurred between June 2005 and July 2007.

Prince Rupert RCMP spokeswoman Const. Krista Vrolyk said, "Dana Mon-
teith is alleged to have used his position as a teacher to facilitate relationships with his victims."
On Dec. 23 a justice of the peace released Monteith on strict conditions that include not being in the company of any female under 18 years of age except in the company of an adult over 25, and not to have contact with any female under the age of 18 at his home.

There is a publication ban on the names of the witnesses and alleged victims.

School District 52 board of education chair Tina Last said the district and police are working together to look into the allegations.

"Our superintendent is conducting an investigation for the district alongside the RCMP conducting their investigation," she said. "We're all obviously very concerned and await the conclusion of the investigation."

Last said Monteith, who was appointed the science department head for the 2006/2007 school year, was "by all accounts a fairly well-liked teacher."

"I'm sure this was a shock to everyone," Last said. "I know he's been a very active teacher and a great supporter of school activities."

She said that, to her knowledge, Monteith has no previous disciplinary issues.
Monteith is currently suspended with pay.

The high school, one of two in Prince Rupert, serves about 600 students in grades 8 to 12.
When asked if any special consultation will take place with students regarding the allegations, Last said, "They've just recently done it, so I'm sure all supports are in place for students."

Last was referring to what happened following the March arrest of another Charles Hays teacher.

Michael Anthony Kolesar, a 57-year-old special-ed teacher and coach, was charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.
The assaults are alleged to have occurred between September 1997 and March 2007. Kolesar ran the Life Skills program, teaching students with special needs in grades 8 to 12.

Monteith is set to appear next in Prince Rupert provincial court Feb. 14, 2008. He could not be reached for comment.

RCMP Regional Web site
December 24

Prince Rupert School Teacher Arrested for three counts of Sexual Exploitation of Young Persons

On December 20, 2007 Prince Rupert’s Charles Hays Secondary School contacted Prince Rupert R.C.M.P. to report an incident of inappropriate sexual behavior of a teacher from within their school.

Prince Rupert RCMP General Investigations Section immediately entered into a Criminal Code Investigation.

On December 22, 2007 at 10:17 P.M. 37 year old male, Dana Allison MONTEITH was arrested for the Sexual Exploitation of current and former students of the Charles Hays Secondary School.

Dana MONTEITH appeared before a Justice of the Peace on December 23, 2007 and has been formally charged with three counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Young Person under Section 153.a of the Criminal Code of Canada.

The Justice of the Peace released Dana MONTEITH on nine strict conditions which include, but are not limited to, the following: - not be in the company of any female person under 18 years of age except in the company of an adult over the age of 25 years - not to have contact with any female person under the age of 18 years at his place of residence.

** A publication ban has been issued prohibiting the disclosure of the names of the witnesses and victims.

The offences are alleged to have been committed between June 2005 and July of 2007.

Dana MONTEITH is alleged to have used his position as a teacher to facilitate relationships with his victims. The Police investigation is ongoing. Police are concerned that there may be additional victims and witnesses who have not yet come forward.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Prince Rupert RCMP at 627-0700. Dana MONTEITH is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court, on January 14, 2007 at 09:00 A.M..

All media related inquiries can be directed to Cst. Krista VROLYK (cell - 250-622-7700)

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Krista Vrolyk, Cst.Media Relations Officer
100 6th Avenue WestPrince Rupert, B.C. V8J 3Z3
Phone: (250)-627-0700Fax: (250)-627-3013
Email: media.webmaster@rcmp-grc.gc.ca