An elementary school teacher in Bonnyville, Alta., has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference after an incident with a minor last month.
RCMP said Wednesday that in the last week of August, the teacher allegedly sexually assaulted a minor and paid them money in hopes they would not disclose the incident.
Police say they were originally contacted by one of the minor’s parents on Sept. 5. The following day the teacher was arrested.
“The youth disclosed to the parent what had happened, so [the parent] contacted us as soon as they found out,” said RCMP Const. Cory Riggs.
The accused was a teacher at Duclos School, an elementary school in Bonnyville, in the Northern Lights Public Schools division. The teacher taught at the school for two years.
Bonnyville is about 250 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
The teacher no longer works at the school, the division said in a statement on its website.
RCMP say the victim is not a current student of the teacher or at the school. They are concerned there could be other victims.
“I would say there is a sense that potentially there could be other victims just due to the circumstances of being a teacher and a student,” Riggs said.
Students and staff at school will be offered supports, the division said in its statement.
“The safety and well-being of our students are always our top priorities and our focus is on supporting students and staff,” the statement says. “We will be working closely with the school to ensure supports are available for students and staff who need them.”
Janelle Arnold, 35, was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference on Sept. 6. She was released with conditions and is scheduled to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Bonnyville on Oct. 1.