Canadian teacher cleared of sex charges

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BRAMPTON, Ontario, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- A Canadian teacher was cleared of sex charges involving a 14-year-old girl in what his lawyer called a case of mistaken identity.

Alan Muliyil, a teacher at Fletcher's Creek Senior Public School in Brampton, Ontario, and volunteer coach with the Oakville Thunder Volleyball Club, was arrested and charged in May with obtaining sexual services, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching with a 14-year-old girl, the Toronto Star reported.

Muliyil's lawyer, Todd White, said police were given a phone number believed to be a cellphone used to communicate with the girl, but the number was actually Muliyil's land line.

Muliyil, 47, did not fit the description given to the police of the suspect, White said.

"It was clear whoever the complainant was talking about couldn't have been Alan," said White. "They searched his computer, they searched his home and they found nothing untoward."

The charges were dropped on Nov. 15 because the Crown had "no reasonable prospect of conviction," said spokesman Brendan Crawley.

However, because of the allegations, Muliyil has been put on paid leave from his teaching post and lost his coaching position.

"It makes you feel like somebody took a part of you," said Muliyil.

Now, Muliyil is trying to clear his name in the community.

Peter Walker, founder of the Oakville volleyball club where Muliyil coached, said he has yet to give much thought about whether Muliyil will be able to rejoin the team, and Carla Pereira, spokeswoman for the Peel District School Board, said the board is conducting its own investigation.

"There's no time frame," said Pereira. "We're working to get it done as quickly as possible. If everything's fine, he'll be returned to the classroom."

"All I'm looking forward to doing is getting back to work," said Muliyil. "I love teaching and I love coaching, it makes me who I am."