BY KEITH LACEY
A teacher accused of sexual misconduct with a student has tendered his resignation despite being cleared of all criminal charges Monday.
Paul Bedard, 38, had charges of sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching and sexual exploitation while in a position of trust withdrawn.
After hours of negotiations with assistant Crown attorney Marc Huneault, Bedard's lawyer, William Markle, told Justice Louise Gauthier of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice all charges would be withdrawn against his client.
The former physical education teacher will tender his resignation at St. Benedict's Catholic Secondary School, turn over his teaching certificate to the Ontario College of Teachers.
He is also prohibited from being in the presence of anyone under the age of 18 without a responsible adult.
Markle told Gauthier that no matter what happened at trial, Bedard had intended to quit the teaching profession because of the ?trauma? involved to himself and his family since being charged in April of 2002.
A 15-year-old complainant told police she and Bedard had engaged in exchanging e-mails and ?chats? on the internet, which became increasingly provocative and sexual in nature.
Near the end of April of 2002, the complainant said she and Bedard engaged in several consensual sexual encounters at St. Benedict's.
Markle made it clear during his questioning and in comments after the resolution that his defence would be that the complainant could have altered and manipulated most, if not all, of the e-mails and chats.
?I think it's fair to say that my client was falsely accused,? he said.
?We had a definite concern about the validity of the electronic evidence ... and the credibility of this complainant.?
Markle said the complainant had two months after coming forward with a complaint to police to alter or manipulate each and every e-mail and chat she said was allegedly shared between she and Bedard.
?Before this trial, I honestly didn't know that any piece of information sent over computer could be changed and saved,? she said.
Police should have seized Bedard's computer, but did not, to confirm her allegations, before filing any charges, he said.
?All along, we felt we had a very good chance of success,? said Markle.
?Charges don't get withdrawn if you have a very strong position.?
Bedard did not wish to speak to the media after the resolution was finalized and Huneault also would not discuss the matter.
However,Markle told reporters Bedard has always vehemently denied the accusations made against him.
Bedard was charged earlier this summer with similar charges against a second teenage girl.
Markle said those charges ?have no more merit? than this set of charges and he will defend Bedard should those matters proceed to trial.
There's a strong link between both complainants and this will hopefully convince the Crown not to proceed with a second trial, said Markle.
?I see some strong connections between the two complainants,? he said.
