Kelowna piano teacher was convicted once before for sexual offences | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Kamloops News

Kelowna piano teacher was convicted once before for sexual offences

A former piano teacher at Kelowna Secondary school charged with sexual assault of a student, was also convicted of voyeurism of students in his care leading to his resignation from the school.

The B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation removed his name from a 2016 decision, but showed Neil Wong was handed an 18 month conditional discharge in 2014 after he filmed a student and her friends while they were changing.

The piano teacher signed a consent agreement with the regulator on November, 24, 2016, leaving him without a certification to teach again in B.C.

According to the decision, an exchange student from Europe was living at Wong's home in 2013 and she had invited friends over to go swimming a month after she moved in. That's when the teacher filmed them changing. 

The decision also adds that he used a school computer to watch pornography during school hours.

Wong was suspended from teaching by the Central Okanagan School District in 2013 before he resigned from his position in 2015, according to the decision.

Although the document includes details from a 2014 criminal sentence, details from Wong's criminal sentence are sealed from the public. 

Wong was the subject of another police investigation back in 2013, according to court documents. Wong applied to decrease a probation order in 2015. The Commissioner of Teacher Regulation also requested a copy of court transcripts. In its decision, it said he was sentenced to an 18-month conditional discharge, which he appears to have satisfied, meaning he has no criminal record.

READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP believe piano teacher sexually assaulted multiple young students

Details remain under both a publication ban and a sealing order.

When asked about the 2013 police investigation, Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Tammy Lobb said she could not provide details.

"He is known to police," Lobb said, but did not say whether he was known prior to the new investigation which started in February 2022.

Wong was placed on conditions and the B.C. Prosecution later approved charges on April 22, 2022.

He's facing a charge of sexual interference and another for sexual assault for allegedly exploiting a young student while teaching piano at his own home, according to Kelowna RCMP. The tip came to police on Feb. 17, and he was arrested the next day.

School district superintendent Kevin Kardaal wouldn't provide more details on the nature of Wong's departure, but he assured that when any allegations of against a teacher arise, they are investigated "to the fullest extent." Those investigations would then be forwarded to the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.

READ MORE: Court orders Vernon dentist to pay up before continuing marathon legal battle

"Investigators are looking to speak to parents of students who have received piano lessons from Mr. Wong, and parents are encouraged to call the Child Abuse Unit, no matter the timeline of when the lessons occurred," Lobb said in an emailed response.

READ MORE: Curtis Sagmoen released on bail

Given his line of work, police believe his access to children leaves the possibility that there are more victims, and investigators are urging them to contact the Child Abuse Unit at 778-940-2240.

— This story was updated at 8:11 a.m., May 5, 2022, to correct previous information from Kelowna RCMP. In a previous version of this story, the investigation began in 2021, but RCMP corrected that to say police began investigating on Feb. 17, 2022.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2022
iNFOnews

  • Popular vernon News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile