Rick Watkins, also known as Rick Despatie, of Ottawa, Ontario, is appealing his convictions for sexual assault and sexual interference involving four former students while he was a teacher and basketball coach at St. Matthew High School. He was also convicted of two counts of criminal harassment. The victims were all under 16, and a publication ban protects their identities. A $220 million class action lawsuit has also been filed against Watkins and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. His lawyers argue the trial judge made errors in assessing the evidence and witness credibility, seeking acquittals on some convictions and a new trial on the rest. Crown prosecutors say the convictions were properly supported by the evidence and want the appeal dismissed. The appeal decision has been reserved, with no ruling date announced. #RickWatkins #ChildPredator #ChildStalker #StalkingAwareness #Ottawa 🔗 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ex-teacher-rick-watkins-guilty-appealing-9.7120875