Ontario School Principal Charged With Sexual Assault, Child Pornography, Luring Underaged Victim

A teacher walks in the hallway of a junior public school in Ontario in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

The principal of a public elementary school in Kitchener, Ontario, has been arrested on multiple charges including sexual assault, child pornography, and luring an underage victim.

London Police Service issued a news release on March 31 stating that Phillip Sallewsky, age 55, has been arrested following a joint investigation involving police forces from London, Toronto, and the Kitchener-Waterloo region that began in February.

Police said the suspect “communicated online with individuals who he believed to be teenaged girls.”

“The suspect, aware of the victims ages, sent sexually explicit messages and images to the victims. The suspect used an online website, as well as the social media application ‘Snapchat’ to communicate with the victims, under the usernames ‘Sam’ and ‘Chuck,’” according to the news release.

Police said the suspect arranged to meet one of the teenaged girls on March 30 and was subsequently arrested in Burlington and transported to London.

Sallewsky is charged with five counts of luring a person under 16 by means of telecommunication, two counts of invitation to sexual touching under 16, sexual assault, sexual interference with a person under 16, three counts of transmitting sexually explicit material to a person under 16, luring a person under 18 via telecommunication, and various charges related to printing, possessing, distributing, and unlawfully possessing child pornography.

Police said that no one sustained any physical injuries and that the accused is scheduled to appear in a London court on May 11. They are asking anyone with information or who may also be a victim to contact their local police service.

An individual named Phillip Sallewsky is listed as the principal on the staff list of Northlake Woods Public School, an elementary school in Waterloo.

A Waterloo Regional District School Board (WRDSB) spokesperson confirmed that Sallewsky is a principal under that board, the London Free Press reported on March 31.

“As per our process, the staff member has been assigned to home immediately, and as such, they are not able to attend . . . school properties or access (board) communication tools,” Estefanía Brandenstein said.

“As this matter is now before the courts, we are unable to discuss the particulars of this situation.”

According to public records, Sallewsky has worked as a school principal since 2018 and as a vice-principal since 2011, and he was licensed by the Ontario College of Teacher in 1992.

CTV News Kitchener reported on March 31 that the media outlet has obtained a message issued by Northlake Woods Public School advising parents that a “school administrator” had been arrested.

“At this time, we can share that we have been working closely with the London Police Service as part of established WRDSB protocols,” said the message attributed to Michelle Newlands, superintendent of student achievement and well-being.

“Please also note that once we learned of the arrest we assigned the administrator to home immediately, and as such, they are not able to attend WRDSB school properties or access WRDSB communication tools. The safety and well-being of our students is always our priority.”