Teacher charged with sexual exploitation makes appearance

Court is dealing with an issue related to sensitive evidence in the matter of Noel Strapp

A high school teacher charged with sexually-based crimes against a former student made a personal appearance in provincial court in St. John’s Friday morning, Oct. 15, although his time in the courtroom was brief.

The matter of Noel Strapp, 38, was heard in a closed courtroom, as the court deals with an application related to sensitive evidence. Proceedings didn’t last long and

Strapp — who attended with his lawyer — is scheduled to be called again late Tuesday afternoon for a continuation of the hearing.

Strapp is scheduled to go to trial later this month on charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation in connection with incidents alleged to have occurred between 2014 and 2016. The identity of the complainant is protected by a publication ban.

The police investigation that led to Strapp’s arrest began in November 2019, when the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary received a report that it subsequently turned over to the RCMP. The Mounties arrested Strapp in January of this year.

Strapp is not in custody, having been released to await his court dates while abiding by a number of conditions, including that he have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 except for his own children.

Strapp, who is well-known as a local wrestling coach, has been suspended from his teaching position with the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD) since the beginning of the police investigation.

He is one of two NLESD high school teachers charged with sexually-based offences against students scheduled for trial this fall. A jury will hear the trial of Krysta Grimes, 33, who has pleaded not guilty to sexually exploiting a student between March and June 2018, at Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court next month. Grimes has also been suspended from teaching.

A charge of sexual exploitation carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence of one year upon conviction if the Crown proceeds by indictment, which it has elected to do in both cases.