Nova Scotia crime news — A 53-year-old teacher is in custody after Pictou County District RCMP charged him with a string of alleged assaults on students at a Riverton elementary school, including sexual assault. Police say the investigation is still developing and there may be more victims who haven’t come forward.
By Maplestime News Desk | Riverton, Nova Scotia | September 26, 2026
Sources: RCMP Nova Scotia | Last updated: September 26, 2026
Key Takeaways
- The Pictou County Teacher Charged is Matthew Donahoe, 53, of Bible Hill, arrested September 23 and charged following a report made September 10 to Pictou County District RCMP.
- The charges — Assault (4 counts), Assault by Choking (2 counts), Assault with a Weapon, Sexual Assault, Sexual Interference, and Administering a Noxious Thing — relate to alleged incidents at Dr. W.A. MacLeod Consolidated School in Riverton.
- Police say the alleged assaults occurred during the 2026/2027 school year, which had begun only three weeks before the initial report, and that other victims of similar assaults have been identified.
- Donahoe appeared at Pictou Provincial Court on September 24; the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education removed his access to the school and students at the time of the initial report.
- RCMP say the case is still developing and are actively asking additional victims or witnesses to come forward.
Pictou County Teacher Charged: What Police Say Happened
According to the RCMP news release issued September 24, Pictou County District RCMP received a report on September 10 that a teacher had assaulted a student at Dr. W.A. MacLeod Consolidated School, a pre-primary to Grade 8 school in Riverton, N.S.
As the investigation unfolded, police identified other victims of similar alleged assaults — all during the 2026/2027 school year, which had started only three weeks earlier. Police say there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.
Matthew Donahoe, 53, of Bible Hill, was arrested on September 23 and charged with ten offences: four counts of Assault, two counts of Assault by Choking, Assault with a Weapon, Sexual Assault, Sexual Interference, and Administering a Noxious Thing. He appeared in Pictou Provincial Court on September 24. These are charges, not convictions.
School Board Acted at First Report
The Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education removed Donahoe’s access to the school and students at the time of the initial report on September 10 — before charges were laid. That timing matters to parents: it means the accused teacher was out of the building while police investigated.
The case is still developing. RCMP are continuing to seek more victims and information, and investigators are encouraging anyone affected to reach out.
“You and your loved ones will be heard, supported, and treated with respect,” said Cst. Daniel Ronaghan of the Pictou County District RCMP. “We want you to know that you can reach out to discuss the right process, pace, and resources.”
An Ongoing Case in a Small Community
Riverton is a small town, and a case like this lands hard on families, staff and students at a school that serves children from pre-primary through Grade 8. The details that matter now are the verified ones: charges laid, a court appearance completed, and police openly asking for more information.
Anyone with information can contact Pictou County District RCMP. Support services are available for victims and families through the usual provincial channels.
Maplestime will provide updates on the Pictou County teacher case as announcements are made.
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