EDMONTON – An Edmonton Catholic School teacher has been arrested and charged with a number of sexual offences that allegedly occurred between him and a female student.
On Friday, March 8, 2013 it was reported that Piotr Zaloba, a 27 year-old teacher from St. Basil Catholic Elementary and Junior High School, was having a sexual relationship with a 15 year-old girl.
According to court documents, the alleged relationship took place between Feb. 1 and March 8, 2013.
Zaloba has been charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and three counts of luring a child. He made his first court appearance Monday morning and was released on $1,000 bail.
Joan Carr, Superintendent of the Edmonton Catholic School Board, said she was “heartbroken and devastated” to hear of the charges.
“We recognize the sacred responsibility of trust between a teacher and a student, and between a parent and a teacher, and that trust has been violated,” she said.
Carr added that the teacher, who was on a temporary contract at the school, has been suspended.
“We wish to assure our parent community that our schools are safe places and this is an isolated incident that we take very, very seriously.”
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Support services are being offered to students at the school. The School Board is also launching its own internal investigation into the case.
Police are still investigating, as well, and not ruling out the possibility of other victims.
“Any time there is a person in a position of trust that is alleged to have committed a sexual offence with a child, there is a possibility of other victims,” said Inspector Dave Spiers, Serious Crimes Branch with the Edmonton Police Service.
Child Protection Section detectives are encouraging anyone who may have been victimized or have more information to contact EPS at their non-emergency line (780-423-4567) or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
Zaloba’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 15th.
Meanwhile, the following letter has been sent home to students’ parents:
Letter to parents of St. Basil students
With files from Postmedia
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