A school janitor has been placed on paid leave during a Halifax RCMP investigation into an alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl from his church.
Halifax Regional School Board spokesman Doug Hadley confirmed Jason Haynes, 37, has been placed on leave indefinitely.
“He’s been placed on a leave, not a suspension,” Hadley said. “Given the severity of the charges, it’s in the best interest of everybody that he be placed on a leave and not return to the school while this is before him.”
Hadley added the board “has no reason to believe that any of (their) students were ever at any risk.” Haynes, who has worked for the school board since 2003, worked nights and was not in the building when students were present, Hadley said.
Rev. Gary Barrett, a pastor at Full Gospel Church where Haynes formerly volunteered, issued a statement saying Haynes was not in a position of leadership during the time of the alleged assault.
RCMP spokesperson Const. Joe Taplin said he could not confirm the name of the accused, nor the specific charges, until the charges are formally sworn in.
“Once the information has been sworn we can release it,” Taplin said, adding the accused has been released to appear in court on Dec. 15.
CTV is reporting the alleged victim is now 21, but the charges date back to when she was 15.
