A 26-year-old junior high school teacher was charged with child pornography offences after an investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team’s Internet Child Exploitation team.
Marc Daigle has been charged with possessing, accessing and making available child pornography. He was arrested on May 24.
According to ALERT, Daigle teaches at St. Nicholas Catholic Junior High School and is also a private music teacher.
Edmonton Catholic Schools’ website says Daigle teaches music, jazz band, physical education and honour band.
Edmonton Catholic Schools said Friday that Daigle is “no longer an employee of the district.”
“ALERT has no information to suggest the teacher offended on any children but are encouraging anyone with information about this case to come forward,” Supt. Joan Carr said in a statement. “The Edmonton Catholic School District is working with ALERT as they continue to investigate.”
Police searched the accused’s home and seized a number of computer and electronic devices. Part of the investigation will include going through the videos and images on those devices to determine if any are homemade.
“While the investigation and charges are related to online offences, ICE is encouraging anyone with information about this case to come forward and contact police,” ALERT said in a news release Friday.
The unit had more than 400 files last year, but this one became a focus due to the fact that the accused has access to children through his work.
“The investigation right now is still ongoing,” Camps said. “At this point in the investigation, there’s no indication that there was any contact at all on any of the students at the school.”
Still, Camps understands why parents would be shocked.
Daigle was released from custody on a number of court-imposed conditions, including to not work anywhere where children under the age of 16 could be.
He is scheduled to appear in court on June 7.
“The safety of our students is always our first priority,” Carr said. “The district’s Critical Response Team is at the school today talking with students and staff. We are deeply saddened by this incident and we keep our school communities in our prayers.”
The district is sending a letter home to parents at St. Nicholas school at the end of the school day on Friday. The superintendent has informed principals and assistant principals and has asked them to share the information with staff.
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