Advertisement

Alberta elementary school teacher charged with child porn offences

Click to play video: 'Alberta elementary school teacher charged with child porn offences'
Alberta elementary school teacher charged with child porn offences
WATCH: A six-month investigation by multiple police forces has led to child-porn related charges against a well-known school teacher in Brocket, Alta. Mark Anderson is a community volunteer involved in Scouts and sports. Joe Scarpelli reports – Jan 12, 2018

A Brocket, Alta. elementary school teacher has been charged with child sexual exploitation offences, following an investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams’ Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit.

Police started their investigation in July 2017, when ICE received a referral from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) concerning a social media user uploading child sexual exploitation materials.

According to police, a number of computers and electronic devices were seized from a home in Pincher Creek, Alta.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

On Thursday, 44-year-old Mark Anderson, a teacher at Brocket Elementary School, was arrested with the assistance of Pincher Creek RCMP, Piikani Nation RCMP and Lethbridge police.

Anderson is charged with possessing, accessing, and distributing child pornography.

According to ALERT, Anderson is also involved in various youth-oriented community programs on the Piikani Nation Reserve, such as minor sports and Scouts Canada.

Story continues below advertisement

ICE said the investigation is ongoing. Investigators are encouraging anyone with new information to come forward by contacting their local police department over the phone or online.

Anderson is scheduled in court on Jan. 30.

ICE is an integrated team consisting of Lethbridge police, Calgary police, Medicine Hat police and RCMP members. The unit investigates offences involving child pornography, any computer-related child sexual abuse, child luring over the internet, voyeurism involving victims under the age of 18, and child sex trade/tourism.

Sponsored content

AdChoices