Retired Nunavut teacher accused of sex crimes returns to court

Johnny Meeko, 59, a retired Nunavut teacher facing sex charges, is seen here in a photo from 2012 as he entered the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit. Meeko, who is now free on bail, was back in the court Aug. 12. (FILE PHOTO)

Johnny Meeko, 59, a retired teacher from Sanikiluaq who faces 28 sex offences involving eight complainants, who were children at the time of the allegations, appeared Aug. 12 at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit where a date for a voir dire — a special hearing held to decide if certain evidence should be admitted at a trial — was set for this coming November.

A trial date may now be set for Meeko, who now faces charges that include 17 counts of sexual interference with a person under the age of 16.

Meeko, dressed in black sweatpants and a white airline logo tee shirt, is currently out on bail following a decision at a preliminary hearing held July 16 in Sanikiluaq.

That’s after he was denied bail on two previous occasions — in November 2012 by Justice Andrew Mahar and in September 2012 by Justice of the Peace Nicole Sikma.

During Aug. 12 proceedings before Justice Robert Kilpatrick, Meeko listened through an interpreter.

Defence lawyer James Morton argued the voir dire proceedings would require an entire a week, but Crown prosecutor Barry Nordin said presenting the evidence would take only a day.

After hearing a suggestion from Kilpatrick, lawyers agreed to set aside three days, from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8, for the voir dire hearing.

For now, Meeko remains on bail, having posted $25,500 as security that he will return to court.

According to his bail conditions, Meeko must:

• reside with his wife and daughter in Iqaluit;

• report to RCMP twice a week;

• have no contact with family members of the complainants or people who could be potential witnesses in a trial;

• not to be in the presence of anyone under the age of 18 unless another adult is present;

• not visit any playground or recreational facility;

• not volunteer in any position to have him in regular contact with anyone under the age of 18; and,

• present himself to RCMP when they come to his home.

Meeko currently faces 28 charges involving eight complainants.

The charges include:

• 17 counts of sexual interference with a person under 16;

• three counts of public mischief;

• three counts of compounding an indictable offence (this means attempting to conceal an offence in exchange for a payment);

• two counts of overcoming resistance to commission of an offence (this means enabling an indictable offence either by choking or administering a drug to someone); and,

• one count of sexual assault.

The RCMP detachment in Sanikiluaq began investigating Meeko in July 2012.

All the offences are alleged to have occurred at Nuiyak Elementary School in Sanikiluaq between 1984 and 2006.