Drummer in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s band charged with sexual assault
A member of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s garage band is facing multiple charges of sexual assault.
Phillip Nolan, 43, was charged with five counts of sexual assault, five counts of sexual interference and five counts of sexual exploitation in relation to incidents that occurred between 1998 and 2000.
Ottawa police say that Nolan was working as a teacher at a school with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, at the time. Police said in a news release that they are concerned there could be further victims.
Police say their investigation began last November following a complaint of a sexual assault on a minor by an adult male during the exercise of his functions as a teacher for Grade 7 and 8.
Nolan is also the drummer in the band Herringbone. Harper plays keyboard and handles the vocals. The band had their last high-profile gig at the Jewish National Fund annual Negev dinner in Toronto last December, where they played a set that included “Sweet Caroline,” the Who’s “The Seeker,” the Romantics’ “What I Like About You” and the Beatles’ “Hey Jude.”
Harper spokesperson Jason MacDonald said that the prime minister was never aware of any of the allegations against Nolan.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/02/06/drummer_in_stephen_harpers_band_charged_with_sexual_assault.html