Retired Ont. teacher facing additional historical sex assault allegations

Readers may find details in this story disturbing and triggering.

A retired high school teacher-turned-folk rock musician is now facing additional historical sex crime charges from a second complainant.

Neill Lanz, 78 of Clearview Twp., is now facing a total of six allegations of historical sex crimes by two complainants who say Lanz sexually assaulted them between 1979 and 1993.

Police revealed Lanz taught at Stayner Collegiate Institute where it is alleged at least one complainant was sexually assaulted. Lanz retired from teaching about 20 years ago according to the Ontario College of Teachers.

Charges laid last year by Huronia West Ontario Provincial Police include adult rape and having sexual intercourse with a girl who was 14 to 16 years of age in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Lanz was charged in late November 2024 and again earlier this month following allegations from a second complainant that includes two counts of sexual assault, and separate counts of sexual touching and sexual touching while being in a position of trust or authority toward a person 16 to 18 years of age.

Police said Lanz was between 32 and 46 years of age at the time of the alleged incidents involving the complainants.

When contacted last year by CTV News, a loved one said the allegations against Lanz are “completely false” and “unfair.”

Police said a woman first came forward to investigators a year ago leading to the initial set of historical sexual assault charges.

Lanz, whose legal first name is Paul according to court documents obtained by CTV News, is alleged to have committed further sexual assaults by kissing a complainant on the lips and touching her for a sexual purpose between 1990 and 1993.

Police remind members of the public there is no statute of limitations for sexual offences.

A publication ban prevents the identities of the complainants from being revealed.

The accused’s matters are scheduled to return to a virtual Collingwood courtroom in May. The allegations against Lanz have not been tested in court.