Jury finds former N.W.T. teacher guilty of sexual assaults

WARNING: This article may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it. 

A jury has found former N.W.T. teacher and coach Neil Barry guilty of sexual assault and sexual exploitation after a weeks-long jury trial.

The jury made its decision on Saturday night just after 8 p.m., finding Barry guilty of two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation. He was acquitted on one charge of sexual assault. Barry looked visibly upset, holding his face in his hand.

The jury began deliberations Friday.

Barry worked as a teacher in the N.W.T. between 2007 and 2017. He was charged with three counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation, all related to incidents alleged to have happened between 2007 and 2011.

He was accused of assaulting four boys, who were between 16 and 18 years old at the time.

During the trial, complainants testified that Barry had touched them inappropriately when they were sleeping, masturbated in front of them, and played card games with them where players were required to strip down to their underwear. One young man also said that Barry had performed oral sex on him without his consent.

During his own testimony, Barry admitted to playing card games that involved stripping with boys he coached in sports. He said stripping only happened "once or twice" during those games, and was not sexual but rather "a dare, to be funny." He also testified that two players did accidentally walk in on him masturbating in his home, but he never intentionally masturbated in front of them.

Barry denied all allegations of sexual assault against him by former players.

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. ​​If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.