Adelaide Hills, Cornerstone College teacher Symon James Gogel in court charged with unlawful sexual intercourse

An Adelaide Hills teacher charged with child sex offending can be unveiled – but details surrounding the allegations remain a mystery.

The Adelaide Hills’ largest school has announced the firing of one of its teachers, just hours after he faced court accused of sexually assaulting a child 17 years ago.

On Thursday, Cornerstone College teacher Symon James Gogel made his first appearance, following his arrest, in the Mount Barker Magistrates Court.

Until now, The Advertiser has been unable to publish Mr Gogel’s name or image because SA law confers statutory suppression orders on the identity of persons arrested for alleged sexual offending.

Once Mr Gogel appeared in court, the statutory suppression automatically lapsed.

Cornerstone College teacher Symon Gogel arrives at Mount Barker Magistrates Court. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Gogel has been suspended from teaching at the private school. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Gogel, 49, of Mount Barker, has yet to plead to one count of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Court documents obtained by The Advertiser allege that offence occurred in the Adelaide Hills in early 2008.

However, those documents contain no further details about the alleged offending nor the complainant – whose identity is automatically suppressed.

In June, Cornerstone College principal Thomas Brennan wrote to parents confirming a staff member had been charged and suspended.

There was “no evidence”, he said, that any current students were impacted by the alleged offending.

The entry into Cornerstone College at Mount Barker. Picture: Brenton Edwards

On Thursday, Mr Gogel’s appearance was originally listed for 10am, but was subsequently delayed until 2.15pm to match the conditions of his bail.

In court, his lawyer said he had no submissions to make at this time save for the need for the court to set future dates for the matter.

An SA Police prosecutor asked the court to adjourn the case for 14 weeks in order to finalise evidence.

Mr Gogel enters Mount Barker Magistrates Court to face a historical charge of child sex offending. Picture: Brenton Edwards

She gave no details about the allegations, saying only that a 14-week adjournment was the standard length requested.

Magistrate Oliver Koehn remanded Mr Gogel on continuing bail to face the Adelaide Magistrates Court in October.

Mr Gogel did not comment outside court, and instead made his way to a waiting car that drove him away.

Just two hours after Mr Gogel’s hearing concluded, a second email was sent to parents by Mr Brennan.

It said Mr Gogel’s “employment has been terminated”.

“There is no evidence indicating that any currently enrolled students are involved (in the charges),” he wrote.

“Our students remain our top priority … we continue to provide the learning and support they need to reach their potential.”

Originally published as Adelaide Hills, Cornerstone College teacher Symon James Gogel in court charged with unlawful sexual intercourse