Former teacher 2nd suspect arrested in historical sex assault investigation

A major police investigation into historical sexual assault cases in the Halifax area involving teachers and others who work with youth has netted its second arrest.

On Thursday, Halifax Regional Police announced charges against Jaddus Joseph Poirier, 77, for alleged assaults against three young men. Poirier worked as a teacher and volunteer hockey coach in the Halifax area from 1984-2002.

He is facing three counts of gross indecency, six charges of sexual assault, three of sexual exploitation and two counts each of sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching. The charge of gross indecency no longer exists in the Criminal Code but was in effect at the time. None of the charges has been proven in court.

Poirier was arrested on Wednesday and released after a brief court appearance Thursday morning. His release conditions include that he must stay away from the three complainants, as well as children and places they frequent, such as playgrounds and schools.

"Mr. Poirier does not have a criminal record, so it's appropriate in these situations for him to receive the bail that he did," Crown prosecutor Shauna MacDonald said outside court.

In January, police charged Michael Patrick McNutt, 66, with 27 offences relating to 13 alleged victims. The charges stem from the 1970s and 1980s when McNutt worked as a teacher and volunteer hockey and baseball coach in the Halifax area.

Both men were caught as part of Program Apollo, a major investigation launched in the fall of 2016 when people came forward alleging they'd been victims of sexual assault and abuse when they were younger.

"It's a very difficult investigation, the nature of the complaint, the nature of the offences to start out with make it very complicated," Staff Sgt. Don Stienburg said Thursday.

"But also the fact that victims in this type of crime, takes them a while to decide whether they want to go forward or not."

It doesn't appear there is a connection between the two accused and they do not share alleged victims.

Stienburg said other people are being looked at as suspects in Program Apollo but it's too early to say whether anyone else will be charged. Stienburg did say he believes there could be additional victims and he's encouraging anyone who believes they were a victim of a historical sexual assault to come forward.

"We've had a dedicated team of investigators since October of 2016 and it's been a lot of work and very satisfying when you come to days like today," Stienburg said.

Poirier has no prior criminal record. McNutt has been convicted of similar offences in the past and is facing civil lawsuits from some of his alleged victims.

'No perfect way to deal with this'

Education Minister Zach Churchill acknowledged that new legislation requiring teachers and other staff to get criminal background checks every five years would not have netted Poirier.

"There's no perfect way to deal with this," said Churchill. "The legislation that we just passed this week gives us another tool to better screen the folks that are in front of our kids."

"Parents can take heart in the fact that police have been active and have conducted a successful investigation."

McNutt is scheduled to return to Nova Scotia provincial court in Dartmouth later this month. Poirier is due to return in mid-May.