A mother of an alleged victim feels helpless and incensed at the court system.
Kelly Anne Jennings, a 40 year old school teacher, was released with less restrictive conditions following two counts of “failure to comply” with her original release order.
“I trusted the school to keep my son safe and then I trusted the courts to uphold the law,” said the mother who can’t be identified because of a publication ban.
“Who can I trust?”
Jennings is facing numerous charges involving former students.
The teacher is on unpaid leave at this time.
Jennings was first charged with sexual assault and sexual interference after an incident with a former student was reported to police on August 21, 2024.
Jennings was released on a undertaking. But police continued on in what they called an “extensive investigation” with the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Port Hope Police Service.
After several Criminal Code Search Warrants by the Port Hope Police Service with the assistance of the Peterborough Police Service’s Technological Crimes Unit, Jennings was arrested again on September 4, 2024 and was charged with sixteen (16) additional charges.
The charges stem from three additional youth victims having been identified as former students of Jennings’.
The additional charges include:
3 x CC 171.1(1)(b) Distributes Sexually Explicit Material to a Person Under 16 years of age
7 x CC 172.1(1)(b) Luring a Person Under 16 years of age by means of Telecommunication
2 x CC 163.1(4.1) Access any Child Pornography
2 x CC 152 Invitation to Sexual Touching Under 16 years of age
2 x CC 163.1(2) Makes, Prints, Publishes or Possesses for the Purpose of Publication any Child Pornography.
On September 5, 2024, Jennings was released with strict conditions and a surety, being her husband.
The first time, the surety (her husband) promised to pay the amount of $10,000 if Jennings didn’t abide by conditions imposed by the court.
One of the conditions, was to not 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.
Court documents show that Jennings was charged on October 6, 2024 in Peterborough and October 12, 2024 in Whitby with failing to comply with her release order.
Jennings was held in custody for a number of days, then released to the same surety; her husband.
The amount of deposit has been increased to $15,000.
But instead of imposing stricter conditions, or even keeping the same conditions, Jennings has actually had her conditions reduced by the court.
One of the conditions was amended to allow her to attend public places, like community centres, where children are likely to be, as long as she’s there to attend her own children’s activities and in the presence of her surety.
The condition reads, “do not attend a public park or public swimming area, where persons under the age of 16 years are present or can reasonably be expected to be present, or a daycare centre, school ground, playground or community centre except to attend activities pertaining to her children while in the direct company of your surety.”
A judicial pre-trial on the two fail to comply charges is set for March 3, 2025.
The mother of one of the alleged victims says the system is “unfair” after the suspect breached conditions twice and was released – again.
“I’m so frustrated and feel completely let down by the courts.”
“Why would they give her lesser conditions? She wasn’t able to uphold the conditions and as a result of that, was arrested.”
The mother says it feels like the (alleged) victims are not considered in the decisions imposed by the court.
“My family spends so much time at hockey arenas and community centers, and now we have to live in constant fear of crossing paths with her.”
At this point her family is trying to get by day-by-day.
“We’re doing the best we can. You always want your kids to be safe and when they’ve been hurt – you want consequences.”
“It’s really hard to explain to my son why this is happening. An adult who (allegedly) hurt him has breached her conditions and then was given lesser conditions, so she can carry on doing the thing she was doing when she violated her release order. That just doesn’t feel fair or just and it’s hard to explain to a child why the courts would do that.”
“It doesn’t make any sense at all.”
None of the charges have been proven in court.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
