What Is It With Special Ed Teachers?

Special-needs teacher faces sex charges

A special needs teacher in Prince Rupert appeared in provincial court on Thursday after being charged with sexually assaulting a current student and a former student.

Michael Anthony Kolesar, 57, was arrested Tuesday afternoon outside his residence after police received a tip during an unrelated sexual assault investigation on Monday morning, said Const. Steve Richards of the Prince Rupert RCMP.
He said police took quick action because of concerns about the vulnerability of special needs students.

“It is an important investigation to us, involving a vulnerable group. Any sexual assault investigation is pretty important but definitely with the group that this involved, there was all the more need to move on it quickly.”
Police are not releasing any information on the victims and a publication ban is in effect.

Kolesar faces two charges of sexual assault and two charges of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability. He appeared in provincial court for a show of cause hearing Thursday afternoon. He was released on bail with several conditions that include avoiding “anywhere that children under the age of 14 years are reasonably expected to be present.”

Police allege the offences occurred between September 1997 and March 2007, and that Kolesar used his position as a teacher to facilitate a relationship with his victims.
Richards said police released Kolesar’s photograph to the media because “we’re concerned there may be more victims.”