A teacher spun his web around a primary school student, developing a close relationship with him and eventually sexually abusing him, leaving his young victim with significant trauma.
Bad grades, anxiety attacks and self-mutilation: the young boy who was sexually assaulted by Danny Sanders must now learn to live with serious after-effects.
The 48-year-old teacher was teaching physical education in a school in Valcourt, in Estrie, when he met the student, who would become his victim. He was only in the third year of primary school when they met.
Danny Sanders Friday at the Granby courthouse.
Photo Erika Aubin
The teacher began spending a lot of time and doing various activities with the boy outside of school. For example, Sanders offered him homework help when he entered high school.
Out of sight
They thus developed a relationship of proximity and trust. The teenager saw him as a father figure. He spent time at Sanders’ residence.
It is in this context that the accused took the opportunity to touch the young person. The victim was only 12 years old when the sexual abuse began. The crimes continued for approximately two and a half years until Sanders’ arrest in December 2023.
“The accused went to bed with [lui]he sat behind him and gave him massages. So that [l’adolescent] felt his erection. He tried to calm down, but he couldn’t do it,” described the Crown prosecutor, Me Chloé Mongeau.
Sanders also touched the young boy’s genitals. The professor even made sure to close the curtains in his residence hall so that no one could see.
Also accused of sexual assault, he finally pleaded guilty on Friday only to a charge of sexual contact at the Granby courthouse.
Hard to hear
Present in the room, the victim’s parents had difficulty holding back their tears upon hearing the disturbing summary of the facts. “We are relieved that he pleaded guilty, it will allow us to put this behind us,” said the teenager’s stepfather. The latter’s identity is protected.
“But we still have to go through the same door as him,” he added in reference to the fact that he met Sanders in the courthouse, since he is free until then. he receives his sentence.
The boy still lives with many after-effects. He has difficulty sleeping, which affects his grades at school. He also lost confidence in himself, self-harmed and suffered anxiety and panic attacks.
“Almost all the things he does at school make him think about this situation,” explained Mongeau.
Before his arrest, Danny Sanders was a coach at a cross-country ski club.
Photo Facebook
Before being handcuffed, Danny Sanders was also a coach in a cross-country ski club for young people. He will return to court in March for sentencing submissions.
