The identity of a North Shore teacher who is HIV-positive will remain secret despite the laying of further charges of indecent assault on schoolboys.
The 44 year-old man, whose name and former school are suppressed, now faces 20 charges relating to six different boys aged between 13 and 15 years.
Last week, he was charged with indecently assaulting one boy, but yesterday 19 new charges were laid when he reappeared in the North Shore District Court.
Seventeen of the charges were for indecent assault, one of unlawful sexual connection and one of attempted unlawful sexual connection.
Defence lawyer Ron Mansfield said most charges related to the man's allegedly having fondled the boys' genitals through their clothes.
But the two more serious charges involved allegations of oral sex.
All charges related to incidents that occurred between July last year and this month at various North Island locations including a state highway.
Judge David Robinson continued the man's bail but, because of a heavy workload yesterday, he decided that legal arguments over name suppression should be heard next week.
While on bail, the man must not go within 2km of the school concerned or have any contact with the teachers or students.
He must also surrender his passport and can leave his address only to report to the nearest policestation, visit his lawyer or attend court.
When granting bail, Judge Robinson addressed prosecutor Philip Hamlin's concern about public safety because the man was HIV-positive.
"Whether or not the defendant is HIV, the concern I must have is whether there is a risk of him reoffending while on bail," the judge said
He was satisfied that strict bail conditions, and the fact that the teacher no longer worked at the school, meant the risk of reoffending was low.
He also did not believe the man would contact potential complainants or witnesses, which could interfere with the police investigation.
The man was now living outside Auckland and his address was suppressed because threats had been made to his safety since the initial charge was laid.
No plea has yet been entered to the charges and Judge Robinson remanded the man to reappear next month.
HIV-positive teacher faces 19 new sex charges
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