New charges for teacher accused of sex assault, recording videos in change room

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This article was published 08/11/2024 (327 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A former Winnipeg teacher and educational support worker accused of sexually assaulting a student is facing additional charges after a second teenage victim stepped forward.

Matthew James Mousseau, 37, is alleged to have groomed the girl when she was attending an after-school program in the Seven Oaks School Division between May 2019 and August 2020, the Winnipeg Police Service said Friday morning.

The victim, now an adult, “bravely came forward” after police charged Mousseau last month with a slate of sex offences, including sexual assault, possession of child pornography and voyeurism, WPS spokesperson Const. Dani McKinnon said.

“Whether they are a child or a teenager, it’s going to have profound lasting effects during these types of offences.”–Const. Dani McKinnon

Mousseau, who was arrested for the second time Sunday, is facing new charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation stemming from a separate investigation.

“It’s certainly very concerning when anybody in a position of trust, care and control such as a teacher or coach (is charged). Those are the people that society is putting their trust in to care for their children,” McKinnon told the Free Press after a news conference announcing the development.

“Whether they are a child or a teenager, it’s going to have profound lasting effects during these types of offences.”

Tony Kreml, superintendent of Seven Oaks, said Mousseau worked in the division as an educational assistant between September 2016 and June 2018. He then worked as a student-parent support worker from August 2018 until October 2020.

The superintendent declined to comment further, citing the pending investigation.

“As a division, we take matters of student and staff safety with the utmost seriousness and will fully co-operate with the police investigation,” Kreml said in an email.

Mousseau was previously listed online as a student-parent support worker for the Seven Oaks Wayfinders program.

The community-based mentorship and outreach program works with high school students to “build strong self-image, establish goals, explore career and life interests and learn to give back through community service,” the website says.

In November 2019, Mousseau appeared at the Manitoba legislature alongside several other people, where Maples MLA Mintu Sandhu lauded Wayfinders’ 10th anniversary.

That year, 430 students engaged with the program, Sandhu said.

Kreml did not respond to questions about whether there were any complaints or concerns raised about Mousseau during his time with the division or Wayfinders.

Police investigators determined Mousseau worked as a teacher in several city schools until May 2024.

Matt Henderson, superintendent of the Winnipeg School Division, previously said Mousseau began working in the division in 2021.

School newsletters and other online material described him as an Indigenous way of life teacher who visited schools throughout the division to educate students about Indigenous culture and provide hand-drum lessons.

“We just encourage anybody who has been a victim of this kind of situation to reach out.”–Const. Dani McKinnon

Henderson confirmed Mousseau resigned May 7 — about two months before police said they launched an investigation into child sexual abuse images on a smartphone.

Investigators searched the phone and discovered hundreds of videos and photos, some of which featured adults and children in “various stages of undress” in the family change room at Seven Oaks Pool, WPS said.

Mousseau was charged with possession of child pornography, accessing child pornography and voyeurism for the alleged offences at the pool, which are believed to have occurred in April 2023 and May 2024.

As the investigation continued, police learned Mousseau was alleged to have sexually assaulted a student while teaching at a North End high school.

McKinnon said “there’s always the potential” for more victims, beyond the two who have already been identified.

She encouraged anybody with information to contact police.

“Whether it’s to make peace with yourself or to prevent this from happening to another individual — it can be a little bit of both — I think that’s very impactful. We just encourage anybody who has been a victim of this kind of situation to reach out,” she said.

“It really resonates in that people are coming forward. They are making more police reports and they are taking that brave step because we’re providing them that backbone and some reassurance that we’ve got you, if you do this.”

Police asked anyone who wants to speak with a sex crime investigator to call 204-986-6245.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca