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Former teacher sentenced to 6 months for having sex with student
The Canadian Press
Published: Friday, March 24, 2006
WINDSOR, Ont. -- A former high school teacher was sentenced Friday to six months in jail and two years probation for having sex with a 15-year-old student.
Thomas Powers, 50, pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual exploitation.
During his sentencing hearing, court heard how Powers' three-month affair with the girl last year was discovered by a school janitor who noticed the pair emerging separately from the music room after having sex.
The pair engaged in sex acts in several locations on school property and spent considerable time in his office, heightening suspicions of an affair among fellow teachers and students.
Powers, addressing Justice Micheline Rawlins before she passed sentence, said he was in an emotional crisis when he fell for the student, saying that the girl provided him ego reinforcement.
He twice apologized to the girl and her family, once during his address and again as a police officer led him out of the courtroom to a holding cell.
His lawyer, Andrew Bradie, said Powers attempted suicide after his arrest in August, overdosing on pills. He was revived in hospital.
Assistant Crown attorney Gary Nikota told the court the affair began when the girl developed a crush on Powers, but what began as flirting turned into a physical relationship that Powers knew was inappropriate.
"This was not a one-shot lack of judgment,'' Nikota said. "He clearly knew that was he was doing was wrong.''
The girl's parents declined to comment on the sentence.
"We're just relieved it's done,'' said the girl's mother.
Powers was fired last month by the district school board. He had been employed by the Windsor board since 1991. While the Ontario College of Teachers had him listed as a member in good standing Friday, he told court he expects to lose his teaching certification.
He was on sabbatical for the current school year, teaching in Egypt along with his wife for the American International School, but told the court he lost his teaching position because of the charge against him.
Living in Egypt since August, he returned for his sentencing hearing. He told the court he will return to Cairo upon his release from jail.
Rawlins said Powers will have to provide a blood sample for the national DNA databank and will be placed on a national registry of sex offenders.
© The Canadian Press
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Teacher jailed for sex with student
Sarah Sacheli, Windsor Star
Published: Saturday, March 25, 2006
A former Vincent Massey high school teacher was sentenced Friday to six months in jail for having sex with a 15-year-old student.
Thomas Powers, 50, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual exploitation. During his sentencing hearing, Ontario court heard how Powers's three-month affair with the girl last year was discovered by a school janitor who noticed the pair emerging separately from the music room after having sex.
The pair engaged in sex acts in several locations on school property. They spent so much time in his office that other teachers and students began to suspect an affair.
Assistant Crown attorney Gary Nikota told the court the affair began when the girl "developed a crush" on Powers. But what began as flirting turned into a physical relationship that Powers knew was inappropriate.
"This was not a one-shot lack of judgment," Nikota said. "He clearly knew that what he was doing was wrong."
Nikota said Powers abused his position of trust.
"The role of the teacher is second only to that of a parent," he said. "A parent doesn't expect a teacher will flirt with and ultimately seduce their teenaged daughter."
The girl's parents declined to comment on the sentence.
"We're just relieved it's done," said the girl's mother.
Powers, addressing Justice Micheline Rawlins before she passed sentence, said he was in an "emotional crisis" when he fell for the student. He said the girl provided him "ego reinforcement."
He twice apologized to the girl and her family, once during his address and again as a police officer led him out of the courtroom to a holding cell. As he left the courtroom, he nodded to the girl and her family and quietly said "I'm sorry."
His lawyer, Andrew Bradie, said Powers attempted suicide after his arrest in August, overdosing on pills. He was revived in hospital.
FIRED LAST MONTH
The Greater Essex County District School Board fired Powers last month. While the Ontario College of Teachers had him listed as a member in good standing Friday, he told court he expects to lose his teaching certification.
Powers has been employed with the Windsor board since 1991. He was on sabbatical for the current school year, living and teaching in Egypt along with his wife for American International School.
He told the court he lost his teaching position because of the charge against him. He has been working as a musician, playing saxophone, clarinet and flute with a band in Cairo.
He returned from Egypt for his sentencing hearing. He told the court he will return to Cairo upon his release from jail.
Rawlins said Powers will have to provide a blood sample for the national DNA databank. In addition, he will be placed on a national registry of sex offenders.
Rawlins said Powers deserved much less than the five-year maximum sentence for his crime because he entered a guilty plea at his earliest opportunity, sparing his victim from having to testify at a preliminary hearing and trial. While some offenders try to blame their victims, "he has also chosen to shoulder the blame entirely."
Following his jail sentence, Powers will be on probation for two years. If he returns to Canada during his probationary period, he will have to report regularly to a probation officer and take counselling.
© The Windsor Star 2006
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Ya...and this dude taught both my brother and I for years...we thought he was the coolest teacher ever. More of a friend than a teacher...sick *barf*
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