A former Calgary teacher who is named in a class-action lawsuit has been charged with sexual assaults against students dating back to the early 1990s.
Calgary police say they began investigating last year after two victims came forward alleging they were sexually assaulted between 1991 and 1995 by a teacher who used to work at John Ware School in southwest Calgary.
Police say the first victim, who was 12-years-old at the time and in Grade 7, had two classes with the teacher.
It is alleged the teacher offered to tutor the boy outside of school hours and would inappropriately touch him during the sessions. Some of the assaults also allegedly happened away from the school inside the teacher’s vehicle.
Police say a second victim, who was also 12-years-old at the time and in Grade 7, went to John Ware School from 1993 to 1995, but did not have classes with the teacher.
It is alleged the victim and accused started spending time together off school property and the student was sexually assaulted at the teacher’s home and inside his vehicle.
Police have charged High River resident Fred Henry Archer, 80, with two counts of sexual assault with a child under 16, two counts of sexual interference with a child, and one count of invitation to sexual touching with a child.
He is scheduled to appear in a Calgary courtroom in March.
Anyone with additional information is being urged to contact police at 403-266-1234, or submit tips to CrimeStoppers anonymously.
Archer named in class-action lawsuit
A Calgary judge has ruled that a class action lawsuit filed by the victims naming Archer and another teacher can go ahead.
The lawsuit, filed by three former junior high students at John Ware against the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), the estate of Michael Gregory, and Archer, was certified by a judge earlier this month.
The plaintiffs accuse Archer of sexually and physically abusing his male students in the 1990s.