A former education assistant with the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District pleaded guilty to three sex offences, including two involving students, on Thursday.
Glen Massick, 46, pled guilty to two counts of touching children under 16 years for a sexual purpose and one count of sexual assault at provincial court in Nanaimo on June 16. Other charges against Massick were dropped.
The sexual touching took place in May and June of last year while the sexual assault happened between October 2018 and October 2019. The victims under the age of 16 were both special needs students he met through his employment.
“The last year’s been a living hell,” said one victim’s father.
The assaults happened outside of school hours off school grounds but his employment gave him the opportunity to meet the students and connect with their parents.
One victim’s parents, whose identity is being protected by CHEK News in order not to disclose the victim’s identity, said that Massick offered to teach their child how to fish at Nanaimo’s Colliery Dam Park.
“Unfortunately, that wasn’t what he was doing. He was grooming my child as well as another child,” said the victim’s mother.
The parents discovered what had happened through their child’s cell phone communications.
“I hope he gets a long sentence. I hope he knows how much damage he’s caused these kids. How much trust he’s broken,” said the child’s mother.
The victim’s parents say they are speaking out because they want other parents to know what Massick is capable of doing.
“I just don’t want any other children to be hurt,” said the victim’s father.
“My hope is that there is no other child out there that he came in contact with and if so please know it wasn’t your fault,” said the victim’s mother.
Massick declined to comment when he left the courthouse and when asked if he felt remorse he said he’d talk about that another time.
The school district today said it wouldn’t comment on personnel matters. Massick is no longer employed as an education assistant.
The judge ordered pre-sentence, psychiatric and Gladue reports and if ready she’ll set a day for Massick’s sentencing in August.
Kendall Hanson
