ctvtoronto.ca
Date: Friday Apr. 1, 2011 8:33 PM ET
An Oshawa elementary school teacher has been charged in connection with a child pornography investigation, Durham region police announced Friday.
Police say a man was posing online as a young girl and convinced young boys to expose themselves on webcams. The man also asked young males to send sexually explicit images to him, which he used in his creation of child pornography.
The suspect had been working at Dr. C F Cannon Public School in Oshawa prior to his arrest. Authorities say there is no indication that the man approached children while working. He also taught at the following schools in the Durham region:
- Norman Powers Public School (2009/2010
- Sir William Stephenson Public School(2004/2009)
- William Dunbar Public School (2000/2004)
- Sir John A McDonald (1999/2000)
- Cadarackque Public School (1999)
Police said they seized several computers and computer-related equipment during a raid on Wednesday. Police accuse the suspect of using “Ashley Mtthews” as his Facebook alias, and several email accounts with the name Ashley M or Ashley Matthews.
The man also used the following email addresses over the past several months:
- Ashley.m3
- Ashley_m69, tori.the.tiger
- mmmyummycandy
- killercows2005
- jessica.m99
- ashley.mmm
- ashley.m4
- ash.needs.a.name
- amanda.loves.abercrombie
- alix.bieber
- a.s.h.l.e.y.m
Detective Randy Norton of the Durham regional police said that parents are being encouraged to check their child’s Facebook, MSN and Hotmail accounts to see if they recognize any names on the list. If they do, they are asked to contact police.
Stephen Martin, 38, faces charges of luring, invitation to sexual touching, possession of child pornography and making child pornography.
He made a court appearance on the charges earlier this week and remains in custody.
Investigators are concerned there may be more victims. They are asking parents and caregivers of students who attend or previously attended the mentioned schools to discuss the topic with their children.
One parent, whose child attends Dr. C F Cannon Public School, said, “I am very stressed out right now. My son was involved with the basketball team.”
Martyn Beckett, the director of education at the Durham District School Board, said it is very serious when an individual breaches the special trust that a teacher has with a child.
The school board said it immediately suspended Martin from all its schools. All the children from the six school Martin had previously worked at were sent home with a letter informing parents that a teacher had been arrested and suspended, and where to look up the details online.
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators of the Major Crime SAU/Child Exploitation Section of the Durham Regional Police at 1-888-579-1520: D/Cst. Brian Vickers (ext. 5349), D/Sgt. Kevin Morash (ext. 5342), Det. Randy Norton (ext. 5363) or Det. Michelle Hoard (ext. 5343).
Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.