Former music teacher faces new gross indecency charge

A 74-year-old former Ottawa teacher is facing a new charge of gross indecency for allegedly groping a male student in the late 1970s at Bell High School.

For decades, Bob Clarke taught music at Belland Sir Robert Borden High Schools in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.

In March,Clarke pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and gross indecency involving eight former students, and is currently serving a two-year sentence in the Joyceville federal institution.

Court heard he inappropriately touched, propositioned or sexually assaulted several teenage boys in the 1970s, '80s and '90s in the classroom, on band trips and outside school.

In a release to the media, the Ottawa Police Service said Clarke will appear in court in connection to the new charge on Oct.24, 2018.

One of Clarke's victims in the earlier case, Peter Hamer, said he's glad to see another person has come forward. Hamerwas the first to lay charges against his former music teacher back in 2016.

"Someone else has found their voice and somebody else has decided that Bob Clarke's secret isn't worth keeping," said Hamer.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Boardtold CBCit "became aware of allegations of sexual assault [involving Clarke] when contacted by police during their investigation" in 2016.

Clarke resigned from his teaching position with the board in 1992 after complaints about his behaviour, but "before any decision about termination of his employment could be made."

Police are concerned there could still be more victims.

Hamer saidit takes a lot of courage to come forward.

"I'm hoping that at some point I can have a conversation with this person and say thank you for doing this because it's not easy," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa police sexual assault and child abuse unit at613-236-1222, ext. 5944, or phone Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll-free at 1-800-222-8477.