Former Inuvik teacher had teaching certificate cancelled

Police laid sex and child porncharges last week, but Hugues Latours legal problems began long before that.

The former Inuvik, N.W.T., teacher was charged with child abduction last December. He has been ordered to stand trial on that charge.

In thesummer of 2010, a disciplinary committee cancelled his teaching certificate. The committee found he had an inappropriate relationship with a female student.

Then last month, Latour was charged with forcing his way into a house and assaulting a person. During that investigation, RCMP found evidence which led to the sex and child pornography charges.

The former French teacher appeared in a Yellowknife court Thursday morning.

He looked tired and answered in a barely audible voice when a judge asked if he understood each of the charges as they were read out in court.

Latour, a francophone, declined an offer to have his case conducted in French.

The judge ordered that Latour have no contact with the three alleged victims.

At the Crowns request, he is also not allowed to contact any female under the age of 18.

Prosecutor Glen Boyd says a police investigation is underway which involves other potential victims. Boyd isconcerned Latour may try to contact them from jail.

Latour, 38,faces 10 charges including sexual assault, assault, making and possessing of child pornography and touching a person under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 6. He will remain in jail for the time-being.

Latour has lived in the town of Inuvik since 2007. He taught grades five and six at the Sir Alexander Mackenzie School. He also worked as a French immersion teacher at the Samuel Hearne Secondary School. He has not taught at either school since 2010.