Bizarre sex assault

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http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-03-21-0003.html

Bizarre sex assault
Male teacher accused in impersonation attack on gas attendant
Thursday, March 21, 2002

BOLTON -- A male Toronto Catholic high school teacher has been charged after someone, who appeared to be a woman, performed oral sex on a teenage gas jockey at a Vaughan full service station.

"The incident is strange insomuch as we were originally looking for a female suspect," York Police Const. Steve Morrell said yesterday.

The accused, a 36-year-old math and physics teacher who lives in Bolton at his parents' home, has been teaching at Archbishop Romero Catholic Secondary school in west-end Toronto for at least the past five years, according to his students.

"Mr. Mike, he's not the kind of teacher I'd be scared to go to if I needed help," said Alicia Malachowska, an 18-year-old OAC student at Romero.

'ALWAYS THERE'

"I wouldn't hesitate to ask him (for help) because I know he's always there, not just for me, but for everybody else he teaches," said the dumbfounded student. "If it was him, it would be a big disappointment."

Romero principal Frank Piddisi was in shock yesterday after being notified about the alleged improprieties.

"I'm shocked," Piddisi said, clutching his head in his hands. "There must be more to this story. I can't believe it."

The police investigation into the sexual assault began Sunday evening after the 17-year-old boy, working at a privately run Esso station in Vaughan, arrived home and told his mother what had transpired.

Police were told that a female arrived at around 8 p.m., pumped gas, and went inside the store to pay. While at the till, the suspect allegedly dropped a bank card, slid under the counter and fondled the boy's genitals and performed oral sex on him, threatening him with a knife.

The teen had refused previous advances, whom he believed all along to be a woman, Morrell said.

"The boy is just devastated," said Det.-Sgt. Brett Henderson investigating the assault. "We'll certainly do everything to help him out. We have victim services available to assist in any way as well throughout the entire court process."

Emmy Milne, a supervisor from the Toronto Catholic school board's communications department said "he (the teacher) has been removed from the classroom."

"He (the accused) will not be returning to class pending the outcome of the investigation," said Milne. "It is a leave of absence with pay. That is normal procedure."

Micaelo Balingit, 36, of Bolton was arrested and charged Monday with sexual assault with a weapon and threatening. He was released Monday night on special conditions and is to appear before a Newmarket court on April 23.

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