Teacher Accused Of Having Inappropriate Contact With 17-Year-Old Student
Posted October 17, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A 36-year-old female high school teacher is facing sex-related charges after alleged inappropriate conduct with a 17-year-old student.
Cops say the victim was taught by the accused at Streetsville Secondary School in Mississauga.
The potential affair came to light earlier this month, after investigators discovered evidence the accused had allegedly traded sexually explicit emails with the young girl.
Cops followed their trail from there, contending the two then met in Mississauga, during which an alleged sexual assault took place.
Parents of students found out about the charges in a letter from the school’s principal. Shock was the overwhelming emotion that followed the allegations.
“You hear about it and read about it, but it’s always at another school so having it this close is definitely a concern,” said Iris Pallas, whose daughter Jessica attends the school.
“I was actually quite surprised that it happened because I didn’t think any teach at our school would have that happen,” Jessica adds.
Thirty-six year-old Leslie Merlino was collared by cops on October 13th. She’s charged with sexual exploitation and sexual assault.
She’s been released from custody under strict conditions – including that she stay away from the school – and is scheduled to appear in a Brampton court November 20th.
