Retired Nunavut teacher could face more sex-related charges

Johnny Meeko, 60, 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. (FILE PHOTO)

Johnny Meeko, a former Nunavut teacher facing 28 sex offences, may have even more charges to answer to.

Meeko, 60, a retired teacher from Sanikiluaq, currently faces 28 sex-related charges involving eight complainants, all of whom were children at the time of the allegations.

But his defence lawyer James Morton said new charges may be pending.

Meeko may face a handful of new sex-related charges, which he’ll likely be tried on at the same time as his other charges, Morton said.

Following an Oct. 29 preliminary hearing in Iqaluit, Meeko’s trial date will be set at a Dec. 1 hearing.

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

The charges include 17 counts of sexual interference with a person under 16; three counts of public mischief; three counts of attempting to conceal an offence in exchange for a payment and one count of sexual assault.

But the allegations against Meeko did not surface until years after the date when they are alleged to have occurred: the RCMP detachment in Sanikiluaq began investigating Meeko in July 2012.

Meeko currently resides in Iqaluit with his wife and daughter, and must report to RCMP twice a week.