A Calgary school principal has been charged with possessing and accessing child pornography.
In a news release Monday morning, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams said they were notified in January by the RCMP’s national child exploitation crime centre of a man allegedly uploading child sexual abuse materials via Skype.
The suspect’s home was searched and a number of phones and computers were seized, ALERT said.
“A preliminary forensic analysis of the seized devices found child sexual abuse materials on his work-issued cellphone,” ALERT said in a news release.
“From the internet provider subscription information, we are able to do judicial authorization to find out who pays for that subscription,” explained ALERT Staff Sgt. Mark Auger. “We work backwards to investigate the person behind the IP address.”
On April 16, Bruce Campbell, 61, was charged with possessing and accessing child pornography. Campbell was employed as a principal at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Calgary, according to ALERT.
“Currently, we believe these offences are solely related to online activities, but can appreciate how parents and students would be shocked and concerned about these charges,” Auger said.
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“These are very concerning offenses, made worse by the fact of being in a position of trust and authority. At this time, we don’t believe any of the children in the material are students or from Calgary,” Auger added. “We’ve determined that it’s not anybody local or children at the school.”
ALERT’s ICE unit is asking anyone with information about the case to come forward to police.
“This is a great time for parents, families, teachers, the students, to be aware that this is an increasingly occurring offence,” Auger said.
Campbell was released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions. He is scheduled to appear in court in Calgary on May 10.
In a statement, the Calgary Catholic School District said it is shocked and saddened by the information.
“This principal is no longer employed at our district. We take these allegations very seriously and are fully cooperating with ALERT in their investigation,” the statement read.
“The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. District counsellors are available as always to support students. Our thoughts and prayers are with anyone who has been impacted.”
“I can’t believe it,” said school parent Merlyn Ballesteros. “It’s sad to know that news.”
“I saw that he’s actually dedicated to his job here,” another parent Ronaldo Cayanan said. “Every time I’m going to pick up my kids, he’s always there to make sure all of the kids are getting to their parents and someone’s going to pick them up.
“It’s so sad… and I’m surprised what happened. I thought he was just going to retire,” Cavanan said. “I heard from my son that there’s a new principal.”
Several parents shared an April 12 letter from Campbell sent home by Sacred Heart School. In the letter, Campbell said he was retiring from his position as principal effective April 12. In the letter, he expressed gratitude to the school community over his over 30-year career and said an interim principal would take his place April 15.
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