Former teacher avoids jail time for historical sexual assaults involving young students
Disclaimer: Details in this article may be triggering for some readers.
A retired teacher out of York Region convicted of historical crimes involving elementary school students will not spend time behind bars.
A Newmarket judge handed Larry Fritz a conditional sentence consisting of house arrest for two years less a day, plus probation after the 75-year-old pleaded guilty to five counts of inappropriately touching students in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.
Police launched an investigation in 2021 following allegations by several victims.
During the trial, the court heard Fritz would call students to his desk at the back of the class and put his hands on them, touching their backsides, rubbing their backs under their clothes and placing his hand between one girl's legs.
The court also heard he angrily shoved a young boy into a wall in a school washroom, knocking him to the ground.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
One victim, now a woman, told the court during the sentencing hearing Fritz stole her innocence, making her unable to trust another male teacher.
While delivering his decision on Monday morning, Justice Cary Boswell told Fritz he "took advantage of their vulnerability in the worst way."
The Crown argued that Fritz should spend four years in jail; however, Boswell pointed out that Fritz had lived an exemplary life following the offences and emphasized his remorse as a mitigating factor in his decision.
As part of his sentence, Fritz must wear a GPS ankle monitor and seek counselling. He will also be listed on the sex offender registry for 20 years and must refrain from being near children for 10 years.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6974402.1721752977!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Laws that could get Canadians in trouble in Spain and other tourism hotspots
There are some laws in popular tourist destinations around the world that could land Canadian travellers in mild-to-serious trouble if they're not careful. Don't let these local laws land you in hot water during your next vacation abroad.
Edmonton gas station employee found guilty of terrorism charges in the U.K.
An Edmonton man has been convicted of multiple charges under the Terrorism Act in the United Kingdom.
BREAKING Polar bear at Calgary Zoo died by drowning following 'crushing' injury
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has revealed the cause of death for polar bear Baffin last week.
U.S. Secret Service director resigns after Trump assassination attempt
The director of the Secret Service resigned Tuesday in the aftermath of the assassination attempt against former U.S. President Donald Trump that unleashed an outcry about how the agency failed in its core mission to protect current and former presidents.
Quebec mom devastated after man who killed her daughter in hit-and-run gets out after 5 months
A Montreal-area mother is furious with Quebec's justice system because the man who killed her 25-year-old daughter in a 2022 hit-and-run was released from jail after only serving one-sixth of his sentence behind bars.
Waterloo, Ont. woman out thousands for car totalled by stolen hit-and-run driver
A woman in Waterloo, Ont. is out thousands of dollars for a car crash she wasn’t involved in.
DEVELOPING Jasper evacuees forced into B.C. to flee fires told to make U-turn to Alberta for aid
Thousands of wildfire evacuees forced from Jasper National Park into British Columbia along smoke-choked mountain roads Monday night were directed Tuesday to make a wide U-turn and head home if they needed a place to stay.
Keanu Reeves explains why he's always thinking about death
Keanu Reeves is aging like the rest of us. And for that reason, 'The Matrix' has shared, mortality has been on his mind.
Do you need a lawyer when making a will in Canada?
Many people believe that creating a will requires the services of a lawyer, but this isn't always the case. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew explains a lawyer's role when crafting your last will and testament.