Two years ago, Ashley Jansen received a stunning acquittal. A judge dismissed the accusations that had shattered her life – accusations of sexual assault. Yet, despite the clear verdict, a chilling silence persists: no one has faced consequences for the investigation that destroyed everything she held dear.
“It’s like having a scarlet letter,” Jansen confessed, her voice heavy with pain. “This wasn’t a petty crime. It was the most horrific thing imaginable to be accused of.” The weight of the false allegations continues to crush her, a constant reminder of the ordeal she endured.
Burdened by crippling legal debts and battling profound depression, Jansen and her husband, Ken, desperately sought a meeting with those responsible. Their pleas for accountability were ignored. Driven to the brink, they filed a lawsuit against the Durham Regional Police, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, and the boy whose allegations the judge deemed “fabricated or contrived.”
Now, Jansen finds herself persecuted anew. The boy’s father has launched an “anti-SLAPP” motion, effectively freezing the lawsuit for over a year. He argues that including his son in the legal action infringes upon his right to express matters of public interest, further delaying any chance of justice.
Jansen’s world imploded in September 2022 when Children’s Aid arrived at her door, informing her she was under police investigation and deemed unfit to be alone with her five children. Just three weeks later, she was charged with a crime allegedly committed in 2018 – having intercourse with an 11-year-old student on school grounds.
The charges were swiftly publicized, despite a glaring lack of thorough investigation. The boy’s story shifted repeatedly, yet investigators failed to address the “inherent discrepancies” within his account. Basic facts were ignored, crucial details overlooked.
Justice Peter Tetley’s November 2023 judgment was scathing. He concluded that an injustice occurred because fundamental investigative steps were neglected, leading to a criminal prosecution based on an “uncorroborated complaint of dubious reliability.” The judge highlighted glaring omissions – a locked door that wasn’t locked, a medical condition rendering the alleged act impossible, and consistent testimony describing the boy as manipulative and dangerous.
The judge questioned the astonishing lack of diligence. An allegation of sexual assault during school hours, he stated, “might reasonably have been expected to call for a careful, impartial and comprehensive investigative response.” This response, tragically, never materialized, unleashing devastating consequences.
Those consequences were profound and far-reaching: loss of employment, a ruined reputation, restrictions on her parental rights, a severe decline in her mental and physical health, and immense strain on her marriage. These repercussions continue to haunt her every day.
“It crushed her,” Ken Jansen said, his voice filled with anguish. “She’s a shadow of her former self, a different wife, a different mother. She’s barely surviving, relying on medication to cope with suicidal thoughts.” Despite everything, Ashley has returned to work, assisting children in foster care.
“I’m back at work, but it’s not because I want to be,” she explained. “It’s to pay off the hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees.” The couple initially resisted filing a lawsuit, but felt they had no other recourse if anyone was to be held accountable for the devastation wrought upon their lives.
Their multi-million dollar lawsuit, filed in June 2024, seeks damages for malicious prosecution and negligent investigation – claims yet to be proven in court. They have already spent an additional $100,000 fighting the boy’s father’s motion to dismiss the claim against him, with a decision expected soon.
“No amount of money can repair the brokenness inside me,” Jansen said, her voice barely a whisper. “It won’t restore the trust I’ve lost or alleviate the constant anxiety that consumes me.” She yearns for answers, for an apology, for acknowledgement of the mistakes made – so that no one else suffers the same fate.
“I’m lucky I survived this,” she admitted softly. “I’ve faced my darkest days, days when I didn’t want to live, didn’t want to wake up.” And still, years later, the true victim continues to be victimized, her fight for justice far from over.
