Former Ryerson principal backs off guilty plea

Former principal Damir (Dan) Ivankovic has backed off a guilty plea he entered in court three months ago for assaulting four students between 2014 and 2018, when he worked at Ryerson middle school in Hamilton.

The upshot is that Ivankovic's case may go to a new trial, rather than ending with his sentencing in John Sopinka Courthouse on Wednesday, July 20, as scheduled.

His lawyer filed an application to strike the plea" that had been agreed upon by the defence and Crown. Justice Joseph Fiorucci quoted an affidavit filed by Ivankovic, in which the accused said he did not realize he risked jail time in pleading guilty.

The affidavit from Mr. Ivankovic points to his assertion that his pleas were not informed; that he did not know the consequences," said Fiorucci.

In April, the Crown and defence had jointly requested a suspended sentence with three years probation, but incarceration was also an option open to the judge, who at the time asked lawyers to present arguments about whether the sexual integrity of the victims may have been compromised" by Ivankovic.

In a statement of facts Ivankovic previously had accepted, students reported that he had touched them inappropriately, and called them names like sweetheart," princess," and baby girl." But in court in April, his lawyer had said Ivankovic denied any sexual aspect" to his actions.

Also at issue, the judge suggested Wednesday, are comments Ivankovic made to his parole officer as part of a pre-sentence report that seemed to contradict facts in the case he had previously admitted.

Lawyers will meet with a different judge Thursday to explore whether resurrecting the plea or scheduling a trial is the next step.

The unusual change in course that derailed an agreed guilty plea at sentencing - and the potential for a long delay awaiting trial if Ivankovic pleads not guilty - upset three victims who attended the hearing.

I feel like we just keep getting pushed back to the beginning," said a former student, who is now 19, speaking to The Spectator outside court.

I first reported (Ivankovic) when I was 13, and I just turned 17, so it's been four years," said another. We thought we would not only get him for the four counts of assault, but that the judge might add sexual intent as part of the charges ... We are all feeling let down and hurt with the events today."

Jon Wells is a feature writer at The Spectator. jwells@thespec.com