Ontario Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sex Crimes Involving Minors

Warning: This story depicts graphic descriptions of sexual misconduct involving minors.

Ontario Grade 8 teacher Kelly-Anne Jennings has pleaded guilty to luring and child pornography charges after a court in Peterborough on Thursday morning.

Photo courtesy of the Port Hope Police Service.

The former teacher was arraigned on six charges from incidents in 2023. These included child luring, creating child pornography and distributing sexually explicit material to a minor. Teenage boys who were Jennings’ students were named as the victims.

The 41-year-old was first charged with one count each of sexual interference and sexual assault on Aug. 21 last year. This occurred after police stated that a male student told his mother about inappropriate physical contact with a teacher during a class trip. An additional three complainants came forward, leading to further charges, according to Port Hope Police.

On Sept. 4, she was given several additional charges:

• Distributing Sexually Explicit Material to a Person Under 16 years of age x3

• Luring a Person Under 16 years of age by means of Telecommunication x7

• Access any Child Pornography x2

• Invitation to Sexual Touching under 16 years of age x2

• Makes, Prints, Publishes or Possesses for the Purpose of Publication any Child Pornography x2

A statement in an e-mail was released to parents and guardians following the Sept. 4 charges:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are reaching out to share some extremely difficult news regarding a situation that we know will be deeply concerning for our school community.

Late this afternoon, Port Hope Police Services issued a media release indicating that Grade 8 teacher Kelly-Anne Jennings has been arrested and charged with a number of serious charges related to former students.

We understand how upsetting this information is for our students, parents/guardians and staff. Please know that the safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority. We take all allegations of staff misconduct very seriously, and Board staff have been cooperating fully with the police throughout their investigation.

As the matter is now before the courts, and because the allegations involve minors, we are unable to provide any specific details about the nature of the charges.

However, we can confirm that Ms. Jennings has been removed from all Board workplaces and prohibited from any contact with students indefinitely.

Port Hope Police Services is encouraging any further victims or witnesses to contact the Port Hope Police Service in person, via phone at 905-885-8123 or via email at phps@phps.on.ca.

We know that situations like this can be distressing, and we want to assure you that additional mental health support will be available at the school this week and for as long as necessary for any student who may need it.

We also encourage you to have conversations with your children about respecting the privacy of potential victims and witnesses and being cautious about sharing unverified information online or through social media.

To support you during this time, the Board’s mental health team has recommended the following resources:

How to talk to children about difficult news: Guidance from the American Psychological Association on discussing sensitive topics with children.

https://www.apa.org/topics/journalism-facts/talking-children

How do you know if you should be concerned about your child’s mental health: A tip sheet from School Mental Health Ontario to help parents identify signs of distress in their children.

https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Tip-Sheet-How-Do-You-Know-If-You-Should-Be-Concerned.pdf

Protecting children through education and prevention: Resources from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection on safeguarding children.

https://protectchildren.ca/en/resources-research/#resources

In addition, we would like to remind you that Northumberland Hills Hospital offers a walk-in counselling option for children, youth and adults (aged seven and up) on Tuesdays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at NHH’s Community Mental Health Services office located at 1011 Elgin Street West, Suite 200, Cobourg.

24/7 support is always available through the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly at the school by phone (905) 885-4583 or contact126@pvnccdsb.on.ca if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to maintain a safe and caring environment for our students.

Jennings was released with strict conditions and a surety on Sept. 5 last year. One of the conditions was not to attend a public park or public swimming area where persons under the age of 16 years are present or a daycare centre, school ground, or community centre.

Following an investigation from Port Hope Police, they determined that Jennings had failed to comply with her release order and was held in custody on Oct. 25, pending a bail hearing.

The Crown has recommended a four-year prison sentence. Jennings’s defence attorney requests that she get no jail time but a conditional sentence of two years less a day, followed by probation.

On Nov. 27, Jennings is expected back in court.

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Peterborough Man Discovered Passed Out In a Vehicle Arrested For Drug Trafficking

A 55-year-old Peterborough man is facing drug trafficking charges after police were called to a parking lot on Tuesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 4:50 p.m., officers received a call about a possible impaired driver in the area of Sheridan Street and Hunter Street. 

They found a man passed out, half-sitting in a vehicle that was not running. 

During a search of the vehicle after arrest, officers located and seized:

• 54 grams of Fentanyl

• 15.3grams of Crystal Methamphetamine

• 85 capsules of Hydromorphone

• 14 unknown pills - tablets

• Seven unknown pills - red tablets

• Two knives

• Drug paraphernalia

• Canadian Currency

The man was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs (Fentanyl)

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs (Hydromorphone)

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking - Methamphetamine

The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Wednesday.

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Peterborough Police Lay Several Charges During Commercial Vehicle Inspections

Peterborough Police Service Traffic Unit officers conducted commercial vehicle inspections, discovering several violations on Oct. 22 and 23.

Over the two days, they completed nine inspections and found that three vehicles were taken out of service with several charges and warnings issued.

Officers seized the plates of one of those vehicles (a truck and trailer) and the driver was charged under the Highway Traffic Act with:

• Drive commercial motor vehicle with a major defect in it or in drawn vehicle

• Improper tires - drawn vehicle - commercial motor vehicle

• Fail to accurately complete daily inspection report

• Operate unsafe combination of vehicles

• Improper braking system - commercial motor vehicle

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Peterborough Police Lay Three Stunt Driving Charges Over Three Days

Officers with the Peterborough Police Service Traffic Unit laid three separate stunt driving charges in the past three days.

Photo courtesy of the Peterbororough Police Service.

Two drivers were recorded exceeding the speed limit by going 92 and 95 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on Lily Lake Road and Dolman Street between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Both drivers were issued a 30-day driver’s license suspension and a 14-day vehicle impoundment.

A third driver was issued a stunt driving charge on Friday just after 6:30 a.m. An officer with the Traffic Unit recorded the vehicle going 101 km/h in a 50km/h zone on Lansdowne Street, just east of River Road.

The driver was issued a 30-day driver’s license suspension and a 14-day vehicle impoundment.

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Peterborough Man Arrested On Two Break-and-Enter Incidents

A 28-year-old Peterborough man is facing charges in connection with two recent break-and-enter incidents.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, officers were called to the area of Simcoe Street and Aylmer Street about an unwanted person. They located a man matching the description given to police and recognized that he was also wanted in connection with a break-and-enter and theft from vehicles.

On Monday, a call was received about a break-and-enter at a business in the Water Street and Charlotte Street area, where a door was damaged and some items were taken.

On Oct. 21, officers were called about a man breaking into vehicles near George Street and Sherbrooke Street before fleeing the area. One vehicle was damaged.

The man was arrested and charged with:

• Theft Under $5,000

• Mischief Under $5,000

• Break, Enter a Place - Commit Indictable Offence

• Mischief - Destroys or Damages Property

• Fail to Comply with Probation Order x4

The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Tuesday.

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Peterborough Man Wanted On Warrants Arrested and Charge With Drug Trafficking

A 43-year-old Peterborough man wanted on warrants is now facing additional charges including drug trafficking, reported on Thursday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 12:40 p.m., officers on bike patrol in the Bethune Street and Brock Street area spotted the man and took him into custody on the strength of the warrants. During a search after arrest, officers located a quantity of drugs in a backpack. 

They seized:

• 37.7 grams of Cocaine

• 7.6 grams of Fentanyl

• 10 Hydromorphone pills

• Scales

The man was also charged with:

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs (Fentanyl)

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs (Cocaine)

• Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs (Hydromorphone)

The accused is being held in custody and will appear in court on Friday.

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Stoney Creek Man Charged With Impaired Driving After Vehicle Hopped Curb at PRHC

A 37-year-old Stoney Creek man is facing impaired charges after an incident on Sunday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 10:45 a.m., officers received a call about a vehicle that had hopped a curb into a parking lot at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Upon speaking to the driver, officers detected signs of impairment.

The man was arrested and charged with:

• Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs

• Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

The accused was issued an automatic 90-day license suspension and a seven-day vehicle impoundment.

The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 2.

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Peterborough Police Urge Public to Exercise Caution of Scams When Purchasing Second-Hand Baseball Tickets

With the Toronto Blue Jays playing in the World Series starting Friday, the Peterborough Police Service reminds residents to be cautious if purchasing tickets through a secondary source, announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

The Police are providing the following tips on purchasing second-hand tickets:

• Be aware that there may be people trying to scam other with deals on tickets that may not exist or be fraudulent. 

• Have the tickets in hand before making payment

• Verify who you are purchasing the tickets from

• If meeting in person to exchange tickets, consider doing so in a public place

• Check the date and time and game number on the ticket/email ticket to ensure the validity of the ticket

If you are the victim of a scam or become aware of one circulating, you can call the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Suspect Sought After Allegedly Striking Boy With Car Then Fleeing

Officers with the Traffic Management Unit are seeking a female suspect after an incident involving a six-year-old boy being struck with a vehicle while crossing at an intersection on Aug. 25.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

At roughly 3:30 p.m., the boy was struck as he and his dad were crossing at the traffic light on Chemong Road that serves the Shoppers Drug Mart and Walmart plazas. The boy suffered minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle apologized and then left the scene.

The driver of the vehicle is described as:

• Female, white

• Slim build

• Should length brown hair

• Wearing a brown tank top at the time of the incident

The vehicle is described as:

• 2010 – 2015 KIA Optima

• Grey

• Four-door

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

Anyone with information or video footage to call Peterborough Police Traffic Management Unit at 705-876-1122 x289, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Ontario Government Invests $981,888 to Peterborough Police Service to Combat Theft and Human Trafficking

The Peterborough Police Service (PPS) is receiving a $981,888 investment from the Ontario Government to enhance local crime-fighting capabilities across two major initiatives: retail theft and human trafficking, announced at the Peterborough Police Station on Friday afternoon.

Chief Stuart Betts (left) and MPP Dave Smith explaining to the media on how the new investment will be used. The Peterborough Police Service project is one of 127 projects being funded across the province for 2025-26. Of the 127 projects, 88 projects will address local priorities and 39 projects will address provincial priorities, including gun and gang-related violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, mental health and addictions, hate-motivated crime, housing and homelessness and commercial/retail theft. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The money is delivered through the Community Safety and Policing Grant Program. This is part of a $91 million investment to help protect families and communities across the province.

Funding has been secured to strengthen the PPS's successful Community F.L.R.S.T. (Focused Investigation Response and Support Team), which targets retail and provincial theft. The F.I.R.S.T. Unit has made 466 arrests and recovered over $119,000 in stolen property for local businesses since launching in January last year.

There is $500,000 invested to strengthen the PPS's efforts against the provincial priorities of sexual violence, harassment and human trafficking.

This funding will be used to enhance survivor-informed strategies across three key pillars:

• Training & Personnel: Ensuring all frontline officers receive continuous, trauma-informed training, supported by dedicated specialized roles like the Human Trafficking Investigator and Domestic Violence Coordinator.

• Technological Tools: Expanding the Community Safety CCTV Network and installing high-resolution Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology. These tools are crucial for tracking suspect vehicles and disrupting exploitation through transportation networks.

• Community Engagement: Improving public education and outreach, with the technology expansion guided by a transparent, community-led CCTV Steering Committee. This investment directly supports the PPS's strategic goal of strengthening community partnerships and providing both proactive enforcement and compassionate, effective support for victims of complex and often hidden crimes.

“Every resident deserves to feel safe in their community,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This substantial funding will equip our police service with the resources to not only crack down on organized retail crime and put repeat offenders behind bars through the successful Community F.I.R.S.T. team, but also to deliver specialized, trauma-informed support for victims of the horrific crimes of human trafficking and sexual violence. Our government is committed to ensuring our police have the tools they need to protect our families and make our streets safer.”

“Because of this investment, the Peterborough Police Service will be able to continue to tackle issues that impact residents and visitors and help us achieve our strategic goals of enhancing community safety, modernizing the service through technology and supporting our people,” said. Chief Stuart Betts of the Peterborough Police Service.

This funding provides new technology to simplify the reporting process for residents. It also helps continue to train and educate officers in trauma-informed practices around human trafficking and sexual violence.

The money also allows the Peterborough Police to enhance its CCTV program to install cameras at key intersections that lead in and out of the community according to Chief Betts.

“As I have stated many times, many of the most severe crimes that have occurred in this community over the past two years have been perpetrated by people who have travelled here; having cameras equipped with automatic license plate readers at strategic locations will assist in a multitude of investigations,” he said. “These are issues that are important to our community and with this support we will continue to be able to make strides in solving crimes and ensuring the safety of all residents in our community.”

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