St. Albert RCMP have charged a 28-year-old teacher with sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses
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St. Albert RCMP have charged a 28-year-old teacher with sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses.
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On Feb. 23, Mounties began a historical investigation after receiving information that a minor had been sexually exploited by a teacher.
in to statement on their website, St. Albert Public Schools said they were made aware of the allegations in mid-February. At the time, the school division immediately launched an internal investigation. The teacher was removed from Paul Kane High School and directed to not have any contact with individuals associated with the division.
On Wednesday, St. Albert Public Schools was notified the teacher had been charged.
“The wellbeing of our students is, and has always been, our number one priority,” the statement reads.
“The trust our families place in us when sending their children to school is also of utmost importance to us. Allegations of this kind affect our students, their families, our staff and our whole community as we are faced with this unimaginable breach of all that we value.”
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The division said supports will be available to students and staff across the division as of Monday. Parents and students are asked to reach out to their school administration if they need assistance.
“As we all process this unthinkable news, we will continue to support each other and most importantly, our reason for being: our students. They are at the heart of all that we do,” the statement reads.
Twenty-eight-year-old Bryce Hughes, of Edmonton, has been charged with sexual exploitation, agreeing or arranging a sexual offense against a child, making sexually explicit material available to a child, making child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
He has since been released from custody with conditions and is set to appear in court on April 25.
Police believe there may be additional complainants and encourage those individuals to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700 or local police.