Dental therapist charged with sexual exploitation

KIRSTEN MURPHY

Longtime Pond Inlet resident John Henderson, 46, has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation and two counts of sexual assault against minors.

Pond Inlet RCMP said the two complainants are school-aged children attending at least one of two schools where Henderson worked as a dental therapist.

“Of course we’re concerned. Somebody has been charged. I myself as a parent am concerned,” said Philip Paneak, chair of the region’s district education authority.

Henderson has been released from custody. He is expected to make his first court appearance on April 16.

Dental therapists work for the department of Health and Social Services. They typically fill cavities, extract teeth and perform other minor dental procedures under local anesthetic.

Government officials were tight-lipped about the matter. Garry Pinto, labour relations director for the department of human resources, said Henderson has been “reassigned” to another job outside of the school system but still within the department. He added that Henderson’s job status will be reviewed pending the court proceedings.