N.S. teacher charged with sexually assaulting student at school
Matthew Donahoe, 53, faces charges in incidents alleged to have occurred this school year. RCMP have identified other victims and say there may be more.
Matthew Donahoe, 53, faces charges including sexual assault and administering a noxious substance
Frances Willick · CBC News
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A Nova Scotia teacher is facing a slew of charges, including sexual assault involving a student at the school where he taught, and RCMP say they have identified other victims in similar alleged incidents.
Matthew Donahoe, 53, of Bible Hill, N.S., has been charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, assault with a weapon, two counts of assault by choking, four counts of assault, and administering a noxious substance.
RCMP said the charges relate to multiple victims, but would not say how many.
Police also would not share information about the age or gender of the victims, what grade Donahoe taught or whether the affected students were in his class.
Donahoe is a teacher at Dr. W.A. MacLeod Consolidated School in Riverton, N.S. The school serves students in pre-primary to Grade 8.
RCMP said they received an initial report of an assault on Sept. 10, just five days into the school year. During their investigation, they identified other victims of similar alleged assaults.
All the alleged assaults occurred within the 2026-27 school year and took place inside the school, during the school day, RCMP said.
According to police, the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education removed Donahoe's access to the school and students at the time of the initial allegation of an assault.
In a statement, the regional education centre said the charges are "deeply troubling" and it takes the matter "very seriously."
The centre had supports available at the school on Thursday and will continue to do so into next week. The school has notified families that Donahoe has been placed on leave, the statement said.
RCMP said there may be more victims, and said investigators will use a supportive and trauma-informed approach to investigating.
"Investigators understand that coming forward may be difficult," Cpl. Carlie McCann told CBC News.
"We want you to understand that we can go at the pace and use the process that is going to work for you or your loved ones or the people you care for and we understand that this maybe a difficult thing for people to bring forward."
McCann said victims can come forward to police without deciding immediately if they want to be involved in the full investigation or court process. She said resources are available to help.
Donahoe was arrested Wednesday.
He appeared in Pictou provincial court on Thursday afternoon with a white beard and collared shirt. Families of students also attended court.
Some of Donahoe's release order conditions include:
- No contact with persons under age 18.
- He's not allowed to attend places youths frequent.
- He has to abide by a curfew.
- He must reside with a surety in Dartmouth, N.S.
- Attending court when directed.
- Remaining in Nova Scotia.
- Not being within 500 metres of any home, school or workplace of 10 named individuals.
- Not possessing any weapons.
- Not attending any public park, school ground, daycare centre, swimming pool, playground, skating rink, community centre, recreation centre or anywhere persons under the age of 18 are present or might reasonable be expected to be present.
Donahue is due back at court on Oct. 19.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Frances Willick is a journalist with CBC Nova Scotia. Please contact her with feedback, story ideas or tips at frances.willick@cbc.ca
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