Teacher pleads guilty to luring (Updated)

file photo of Burke with students

A prominent local North Bay teacher pled guilty to luring a child over the Internet in North Bay court Wednesday morning.

Derek Burke, a full time teacher at J.W. Fricker, stood beside his lawyer Maureen Forestell with his head down and quietly plead guilty to luring the 14-year-old boy.

Burke’s wife, parents, friends and supporters, where all present in the courtroom while the 39-year-old plead guilty to making the inappropriate sexual overtures in a conversation on the internet with the boy who was a student at the school between May 30 and June 8, 2006.

Originally Forestell told the court her client would be pleading guilty with no facts being made public, but after clarification the facts were shared. However, before allowing the conversation to be read to the court, Judge Jean-Gilles Lebel placed a publication ban into effect that prevents any references that would identity the boy.

The court heard the discussion the pair had over the Internet, where the student alluded to the teacher having an erection.

The court heard the teacher’s response where he said that the child he should have checked, but that it was too risky to check at school, and he would have allowed him let him check elsewhere.

The 39-year-old was originally charged with two counts in June 2006, however the first count of sexual exploitation was withdrawn.

Judge Lebel also made a variance to Burke’s bail allowing him to return home to his wife and children at their residence on Veronica Drive.

Burke will appear in court on February 2nd for sentencing where he could receive a maximum of 5 years in prison.