ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE
Citation: Ontario College of Teachers v Kuneman, 1998 ONOCT 4
Date: 1998-06-15
REASONS FOR DECISIONS AND ORDERS
IN THE MATTER OF ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS ACT, 1996, and the Regulation (Ontario Regulation 437/97) thereunder:
AND IN THE MATTER OF discipline proceedings against Narcisse C. Kuneman,
The Discipline Committee held a hearing on April 8, 1998,
BETWEEN:
ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS
- and -
NARCISSE C. KUNEMAN
Certificate #286428
PRESENT:
Members of the Panel
George Merrett (Chair)
Wayne Cornack
Karen Mitchell
L. Thomas Forbes, Q.C., Counsel for the Ontario College of Teachers
No one appeared for Narcisse Kuneman.
A Notice of Hearing (Exhibit 1) was served on Narcisse C. Kuneman at 2:00 p.m. on February 27, 1998. Neither Narcisse Kuneman nor a representative were present at this hearing, held on Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at the Ontario College of Teachers.
It is alleged that Narcisse C. Kuneman is guilty of professional misconduct in that he violated Sections 1(5), 1(7), 1(14), 1(15), 1(16), 1(17), 1(18) and 1(19) of the Professional Misconduct Regulation made under the Ontario College of Teachers Act and filed as Ontario Regulation 437/97 on December 4, 1997.
At the request of L. Thomas Forbes, Q.C., acting as prosecutor, the Discipline Committee ordered that the names of the victims, and any information which might lead to their identification, not be published.
EVIDENCE:
Evidence presented by Detective Vardon indicated that he first became involved with this case on April 4, 1996 when an allegation of sexual abuse was brought against Narcisse C. Kuneman by the parents of a ten-year old boy. Detective Vardon conducted an investigation. As a result of numerous interviews with individuals, a search warrant was obtained. Found in Narcisse C. Kuneman’s residence were approximately 100 pair of children’s underwear, numerous slides of pre-pubescent boys in stages of undress, books of child pornography, hundreds of written documents outlining sex acts, class lists of students containing the names of the alleged victims and personal diaries outlining sexual acts and the names of possible future victims.
In all, a total of seven alleged victims were students of the school while Narcisse Kuneman was employed there as a teacher. A total of 42 charges were brought against Narcisse Kuneman for sexual offences with boys, possession of child pornography, gross indecency, et cetera, (see Certificate of Conviction, Exhibit ), resulting in 33 convictions. Narcisse Kuneman was declared a dangerous offender and was sentenced to undetermined time in prison.
Evidence presented by Joseph Virdiramo, Director of Education, Superior Greenstone District, stated that school records indicated that six of Narcisse Kuneman’s victims were enrolled at the public school during the time of Narcisse Kuneman’s assignment to that school.
REASONS:
After having considered all the evidence given by Detective Vardon and Joseph Virdiramo, and the Exhibits filed, the Committee finds that the College has established,on a preponderance of clear and credible testimony that Narcisse C. Kuneman’s conduct and actions, as alleged in Exhibit 1, constitute professional misconduct.
The Discipline Committee finds Narcisse C. Kuneman to be in breach of Sections 1(7), 1(17), 1(18) and 1(19) of the Professional Misconduct Regulation made under the Ontario College of Teachers Act and filed as Ontario Regulation 437/97.
DECISIONS AND ORDERS:
Based on the evidence, the Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Teachers, finds Narcisse C. Kuneman guilty of professional misconduct and orders his Certificate of Qualification and Registration be revoked immediately.
Pursuant to Section 30(5)(iii) of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, the finding and order of the Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Teachers shall be published in the official publication of the College, naming the member, and stating the decision in summary.
DATED AT TORONTO, THIS DAY OF , 1998
BY ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE
___________________________________________
GEORGE MERRETT, Chair
___________________________________________
KAREN MITCHELL
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WAYNE CORNACK