February 1, 2001
Dental therapist charged
with sexual exploitation
Kirsten
Murphy
Longtime Pond Inlet resident
John Henderson, 46, has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation
and two counts of sexual assault against minors.
Pond Inlet RCMP said the
two complainants are school-aged children attending at least one of two schools
where Henderson worked as a dental therapist.
"Of course were
concerned. Somebody has been charged. I myself as a parent am concerned,"
said Philip Paneak, chair of the regions district education authority.
Henderson has been released
from custody. He is expected to make his first court appearance on April 16.
Dental therapists work
for the department of Health and Social Services. They typically fill cavities,
extract teeth and perform other minor dental procedures under local anesthetic.
Government officials were
tight-lipped about the matter. Garry Pinto, labour relations director for the
department of human resources, said Henderson has been "reassigned"
to another job outside of the school system but still within the department.
He added that Hendersons job status will be reviewed pending the court
proceedings.
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