Shocking development from School District 52

An article from the Vancouver Sun and The front page story in Thursday’s Daily News will most likely be remembered long after the huge snowfall of Wednesday is long forgotten.

The Daily News provided a page one piece based mainly on a press release from the RCMP on the charges that have been laid against a local Prince Rupert teacher. The Sun posted a story on their website, which is destined for the Vancouver papers print edition on Friday.

TEACHER IS FACING SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES
The Daily News
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Page one

Prince Rupert RCMP announced today they have arrested a local teacher in connection with alleged sexual assaults.

Michael Anthony Kolesar, 57, of Prince Rupert, who is a special needs teacher and athletics coach, was arrested and charged for the alleged sexual assaults of a student and a former student, said Constable Steve Richards.

Kolesar appeared in court Wednesday to be formally charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability.

The offences are alleged to have happened between September 1997 and March 2007.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are concerned that there may be additional victims, said Richards.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 627-0700.

Officials from Charles Hays School and School District 52 have been informed, said police, and provisions have been made to protect and provide support to students.

Kolesar was set to appear in provincial court again today at 1:30 pm.

**this story was corrected on March 30, to correctly reflect the years of the alleged offences, from 1997-2007.

Special-needs teacher faces sex charges
Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, March 30, 2007

A special needs teacher in Prince Rupert appeared in provincial court on Thursday after being charged with sexually assaulting a current student and a former student.

Michael Anthony Kolesar, 57, was arrested Tuesday afternoon outside his residence after police received a tip during an unrelated sexual assault investigation on Monday morning, said Const. Steve Richards of the Prince Rupert RCMP.

He said police took quick action because of concerns about the vulnerability of special needs students.

“It is an important investigation to us, involving a vulnerable group. Any sexual assault investigation is pretty important but definitely with the group that this involved, there was all the more need to move on it quickly.”

Police are not releasing any information on the victims and a publication ban is in effect.Kolesar faces two charges of sexual assault and two charges of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability. He appeared in provincial court for a show of cause hearing Thursday afternoon. He was released on bail with several conditions that include avoiding “anywhere that children under the age of 14 years are reasonably expected to be present.”

Police allege the offences occurred between September 1997 and March 2007, and that Kolesar used his position as a teacher to facilitate a relationship with his victims.Richards said police released Kolesar’s photograph to the media because “we’re concerned there may be more victims.”

“While the students would probably know his name — he’s also taught some athletic teams at the schools and we thought, perhaps the students or their parents might not remember his name — but seeing his photo, [they] might remember him.”