Halifax teacher charged with child luring, more victims feared in Cole Harbour case
A Woodlawn High School teacher in Dartmouth has been charged with child luring after an RCMP investigation. Police warn additional victims may have been targeted online.
Dartmouth high school teacher arrested after child luring investigation
A 33-year-old high school teacher from Cole Harbour has been charged with child luring and making sexually explicit material available to a child, Global News Crime reports.
Nova Scotia RCMP received information on Oct. 30 that someone in Halifax had communicated online with a youth for a sexual purpose. By Nov. 6, investigators had identified the online user as a Cole Harbour man.
Three days later, members of the Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Unit arrested Bennett Gordon Thomas at a traffic stop near his home. Officers seized electronic devices at the scene. A subsequent search warrant executed at a Flying Cloud Drive address in Cole Harbour yielded additional electronic evidence.
Thomas was released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on Dec. 16.
RCMP said investigators believe additional victims may have been targeted online. "Report any suspicious activity or communication to local police," police stated in a Thursday news release.
The principal of Woodlawn High School in Dartmouth notified families by email that "a member of our staff has been arrested and is facing serious charges related to an incident that occurred outside of school." The email, which Global News has reviewed, links to the RCMP release. The principal confirmed the individual has been placed on leave, that the school is cooperating fully with the investigation and that counsellors are available to students.
Halifax Regional Centre for Education spokesperson Lindsey Bunin confirmed an employee is "facing serious charges." She said the employee has been placed on leave and that families have been notified. "The safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority, and I can assure you that HRCE takes these matters very seriously," Bunin told Global News. She added that, as this is both a personnel matter and an active police investigation, no further comment could be provided.
RCMP are urging parents and guardians to speak with their children about online safety.
Source: Global News Crime