Updated: Fri May. 15 2009 9:04:19 PM

ctvmontreal.ca

Selwyn House, the private boys' school in Westmount, has once again been rocked by sex-related charges against a staff member.

 

Michael Kane, a computer technician and audio-visual coordinator at the school since 2000, was arrested Tuesday by Chateauguay police.

 

He appeared at the Valleyfield courthouse on Wednesday to face charges of sexual interference with two minors.

 

Police say neither of the two victims are students at Selwyn House, but added that Kane knew them well.

 

Kane, 40, is married, with two children.

 

In a statement to parents and alumni, Selwyn House Headmaster Hal Hannaford said the charges do not involve alleged wrongdoing on school grounds.

 

"We do know that the alleged events leading to his arrest took place entirely away from the Selwyn House community, and no Selwyn House students were involved."

 

Hannaford said Kane was thoroughly screened -- through references and a police check -- before he was hired.

 

He did not have a previous criminal record.

 

Hannaford added that the school's administration is "troubled by the situation" and is available to take calls from concerned parents.

 

"We realize it is difficult for parents to receive this kind of news, and we are here to offer any assistance we can."

 

Former Selwyn House teacher facing up to 125 years in prison

 

Selwyn House has been in the news on several occasions because of the alleged sexual misconduct of staff members.

 

Richard Doucet, who once taught at the school, was arrested last year in the United States on dozens of child pornography charges.

 

The charges stem from an investigation where a Virginia detective posed as a 13-year-old boy on the Internet and arranged to meet with Doucet after allegedly having a number of sexually explicit conversations with him online.

 

On Thursday, Doucet pleaded guilty to 25 counts of possessing child porn in a Virginia court.

 

He reached a plea deal that led to a drop in the number of number of charges against him.

 

The 37-year-old had originally been facing 230 charges.

 

Doucet faces up to 125 years in prison with no chance of parole.

 

He will be sentenced on Aug. 14 in Fredericksburg.

 

$5-million settlement

 

In February, Selwyn House agreed to a $5-million settlement in a class-action lawsuit launched by former students who alleged that three of their former teachers repeatedly molested them in during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.