Ex-principal who ignored alleged abuse against student to face penalties

TORONTO -- A former principal who turned a blind eye to allegations that a close friend and employee was sexually abusing a mentally disabled student at his school in northwestern Ontario should find out today what sanctions he'll face.

Jacques Perron was found to have failed to carry out his professional responsibilities in January after admitting he deliberately ignored several reports of abuse at his French-language Catholic school near Thunder Bay.

The Ontario College of Teachers, which oversees the province's teachers, found Perron's inaction made him an accomplice to the abuse alleged to have taken place on multiple occasions between 2003 and 2006.

The college is set to lay out its penalties against Perron today. These can range from a simple reprimand to the revocation of his licence.

Records of Perron's disciplinary hearing show his lawyer stressed the ex-principal himself never had any sexual contact with students.

Richard Forget told the three-member panel his client was led astray by his affection for the other man, who worked as a custodian, educational assistant and lunch supervisor.

The exact nature of their relationship remains unclear, however, described as friendship by Perron's camp but as "strange" and "complicated" by the college's lawyer.

The lawyer said the pair were "perhaps half-brothers, perhaps lovers" and lived together for some time, records show.

Details of the alleged abuse were outlined during the hearing when the "intellectually challenged" student at the heart of the case took the stand.

The student, who is identified only as "C", testified the custodian "coerced him into sex several times a week" and shared a hotel room with him during two separate school trips to Winnipeg, according to the college's records.

He also spoke of an incident in which the custodian walked through their hotel room naked, the records show.

Perron took part in one of those trips, though the student said he did not have sexual contact with him.

Under cross-examination, the student admitted he signed a letter at Perron's request denying the alleged abuse occurred, and said he wanted to protect his then-principal and mentor.

Other school employees testified they had complained to Perron about the custodian's behaviour toward "C" and other students, but were told the matter had been dealt with.

The abuse allegations began to emerge while the school board looked into several unrelated complaints against Perron.

Provincial police were called in to investigate but said no charges were laid against him or the custodian.

In Ontario, the Child and Family Services Act requires anyone working closely with children to report any suspicion of abuse against a child.

Perron went on sick leave in 2004 to deal with stress stemming from a grievance filed by a former school employee.

He was later suspended without pay or benefits, then fired in November 2006.

He filed a lawsuit against the school board and brought a complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal, claiming he was dismissed in part because of his sexual orientation.

But the suit was unsuccessful and the human rights case was settled out of court. His lawyer wouldn't discuss the terms of the settlement.