Steinbach teacher accused of sexual offences against 6 students: Manitoba RCMP
David Bueti, 41, accused of assaults alleged to have happened at high school between February and May 2022
Police have arrested a teacher and rugby coach at a Steinbach, Man., high school who is accused of sexual offences against six female students ranging in age from 15 to 18.
David Bueti, 41, has been charged with five counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual interference for alleged offences between Feb. 1 and May 31, 2022, RCMP said Wednesday.
The offences are alleged to have occurred at Steinbach Regional Secondary School, where Bueti worked as both a teacher and coach from February until June.
RCMP say they received several reports of sexual assault involving the teacher on June 17.
The alleged victims in this case came forward to a trusted person, RCMP Sgt. Morgan Page said at a news conference on Wednesday morning. The school division then made a report to police through the school social worker.
Other female students came forward and provided information that helped the investigation, RCMP said.
Bueti was arrested on July 4.
In a statement, Hanover School Division said he was placed on leave immediately after it learned of the allegations. A spokesperson told CBC News he is no longer employed by the division.
The division is "treating the allegations seriously and taking the necessary precautions to ensure that the matter is properly investigated," according to its emailed statement.
Worked at 4 Winnipeg schools
Police also released information Wednesday about his employment history at several schools in Winnipeg going back more than a decade.
He worked at Holy Ghost School from 2006 to 2007 and at St. John Brebeuf School from 2007 to 2018.
He then worked at Holy Cross school for a four-month period in 2020.
Court records show Bueti filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit late on Dec. 16, 2021, against Holy Cross, a K-8 Catholic school where he worked as the vice-principal.
In the statement of claim, Bueti accused the school's principal of defamation, claiming he said Bueti "knows nothing" and called him a liar at a public board meeting as well as in other communications with school officials.
Bueti also claimed the principal and a teacher at the school, who was also the local union president, "conspired with one another to interfere with [Bueti's] relationship with and employment by [Holy Cross]," the lawsuit said.
One month before he was terminated from his position, Bueti attended a union meeting with the union president and another teacher where he was accused of a "lack of professionalism, dishonesty and disrespect stemming from arrangements [Bueti] was involved in to address the concerns of a child's parent," the statement of claim alleges.
"The union did not agree with the arrangements."
It's not clear if the lawsuit is still active at this time.
Other school not aware of any incidents
Bueti also worked at River East Collegiate for a period of six months in 2021.
River East Transcona School Division posted a message on Facebook, saying Bueti was employed at River East Collegiate from February to June 2021, and was a substitute teacher in the division early in the 2021-22 school year.
The division said it recognizes that the allegations "will be disturbing and unsettling for many students, their families, as well as staff," but that it is not aware of any incidents during Bueti's employment there.
Bueti coached rugby at Steinbach Regional Secondary School, the RCMP's Sgt. Page said, but she was unaware of his status as a coach at any of the other schools.
Page said police are not aware of any other victims in this case.
"But that's why we are here today — to make the public aware of the arrest and the charges in this case, and then give the information regarding David Bueti's employment history, to make the public aware that this gentleman was working in the school system prior to these serious allegations," she said.
There is no time limit for reporting a sexual assault to police, Page said.
Bueti was released on conditions while the investigation is ongoing. Those conditions include not having any contact with the alleged victims, not being in a position of authority with anyone under the age of 16, and not attending any schools, playgrounds, or anywhere that someone under the age of 16 might be expected to be.
'Disgusting,' parent says
News of the charges against Bueti came as a shock to the mother of one of his students.
Sarah Crawford's son, who is not one of the alleged victims, was in a typing class with Bueti as his teacher.
"It's scary because we send our kids to school thinking that they're going to be safe, that they're going to be feeling secure, and then you hear this," Crawford said.
"My heart goes out to those girls and their families, I can't imagine what they're going through right now."
People in Steinbach who spoke to CBC News expressed surprise and outrage over the allegations.
"It's disgusting and I think every parent should just do what they can to protect their kids," said Taylor Klassen.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Steinbach RCMP at 204-326-1234. Alternatively, they can call their local police detachment, or Klinic's 24/7 sexual assault crisis line at 204-786-8631 or toll free at 1-888-292-7565.
Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted through Klinic's 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Line. In Winnipeg, call 204-786-8631, or call toll-free 1-888-292-7565.
You can also access crisis lines and local support services through this government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.
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With files from Alana Cole and Jérémie Bergeron