Former Sudbury teacher agrees to peace bond, avoids conviction on sexual assault charges

Former educator Michael Zanier is free of sexual assault and interference charges after agreeing to a 12-month peace bond the crown withdrew the charges.

A former Sudbury teacher charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and interference has avoided a criminal conviction and agreed to a peace bond.

Michael Zanier, 59, was charged in 2022 with sexual assault and sexual interference. Additional charges were added in 2024.

But on Friday he entered into a common law peace bond, with conditions, and the Crown withdrew the charges.

His Toronto lawyer, Dean Embry, made a point of telling the court that accepting the peace bond was not an admission of guilt.

Zanier taught at St. Charles College, a Catholic secondary school in Sudbury, and at an elementary school before that.

The charges stemmed from complaints about inappropriate behaviour and touching involving students, with incidents alleged to have taken place between 2010 and 2022.

There was to be a trial late last year, but it was delayed when new evidence (disclosure) spurred another investigation into criminal negligence involving a former school administrator.

Then in May, Embry told court there was an agreement with the Crown of the common law peace bond with conditions.

Those conditions include not having contact with five former students or be within 100 metres of these same individuals. Zanier must also keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months.

By signing the peace bond, he will not have a criminal record.

Zanier is listed as inactive/non-practising on the Ontario College of Teachers’ website.