Winnipeg police charge ex-teacher with additional sexual offences after 4 more victims identified

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Peggy

WARNING: This article contains discussion of sexual exploitation and abuse.

A man who worked in Winnipeg schools is facing several new charges, after Winnipeg police say their ongoing investigation found evidence he sexually victimized more girls over a period from January to September of this year.

Matthew James Mousseau, 37, was charged Tuesday with several new offences, including making, printing, publishing or possessing material for the purpose of publishing child pornography and luring a minor via telecommunication.

He was initially charged with multiple voyeurism, child pornography and sexual exploitation offences in October, when police alleged he made video recordings in April 2023 and May 2024 of children and adults in various stages of undress in the family change room of a public pool in the city’s Maples neighbourhood.

In November, he was also charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation, after police said he had a sexually exploitative relationship with a student in an after-school program where he was a support worker.

In a release Thursday, Winnipeg police said Mousseau is now also accused of sexual assault, having sexually exploitative conversations, and taking sexually exploitative photos and videos involving four more girls between the ages of 12 and 17.

Three of the girls were students in a program where Mousseau acted as their mentor, police said. The other girl knew him from outside of school.

Worked in WSD until May

Police did not indicate which schools or school divisions were involved.

CBC previously reported that Mousseau worked for the Winnipeg School Division from 2021 until he resigned on May 7, 2024, as the division’s Indigenous way of life teacher.

Winnipeg police say an investigation by their internet child exploitation unit found that sometime between January and May of this year, a former student asked Mousseau for a ride. He took her back to his home, where she spent the night and Mousseau took photos of her, according to police.

They also say that on Jan. 22, a teenage girl who knew Mousseau from the community went to his home. While they were alone, he secretly recorded a video of her in which he performed an indecent act, police allege.

Between February and March, another student turned to Mousseau for emotional support, according to police. They allege he used grooming tactics to increase the time they spent together, and a sexually exploitative relationship was cultivated between the two through messages.

She returned to his residence on March 26, where Mousseau gave her cannabis and sexually assaulted her, according to police.

Sometime between July and August, another former student requested a ride from Mousseau. He picked her up, along with another unidentified girl, and purchased cannabis and alcohol for them, according to police. They went back to his house and consumed these items, police allege.

Between Sept. 17 and 19, one of the four students arranged to meet Mousseau again. They went back to his home, where he sexually assaulted her, according to police.

They say he had previously been charged with offences related to that girl.

On Tuesday of this week, Mousseau was charged with the new offences, which also include voyeurism, indecent exposure to a person under the age of 16 and supplying liquor to a minor.

He was detained in custody.

The Winnipeg Police Service says it is committed to supporting sexual assault survivors, and anyone who wants to speak to an investigator can call 204-986-6245 or make a report online at cybertip.ca.

Resources are also available through the Winnipeg Police Services’ victim services at 204-986-6350 and the Klinic sexual assault crisis line at 204-786-8631, police said.

For anyone who has been sexually exploited or assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.