A school teacher and a music instructor from Edmonton have been charged with possessing and accessing child pornography in connection with an investigation by Alberta’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit.
The investigation was launched by the ICE unit of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams after receiving a tip from the RCMP’s National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children that someone was sharing child sexual abuse materials online via the social media platform Kik, police said in a Sept. 23 press release.
The tip led investigators to a home in Edmonton on Sept. 11, where officers conducted a search that resulted in the seizure of computers and electronic devices.
Decryption and analysis performed by forensic technicians uncovered materials that police allege were related to child sexual abuse. Police arrested the two men living at the home and filed charges against them on Sept. 16 and 18.
Katz Dawson, a 36-year-old teacher at Lillian Osborne High School, has been charged with possessing and accessing child pornography in connection with the investigation.
Allan Nelson, 32, faces the same charges. Police say Nelson offered music lessons at Fiddle & Fugue, which he operated out of his home.
“While the investigation and charges are related to online offences, the nature of the men’s employment placed them in a position of trust and authority,” ICE noted.
The Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) said the board is aware of the charges and that Dawson is not working at any school or board location.
“Edmonton Public Schools is aware of charges laid against a teacher at Lillian Osborne School. We are co-operating with police as they investigate,” wrote EPSB spokesperson Kim Smith in a Sept. 23 email to the Epoch Times.
“The safety and well-being of students is at the core of our commitment as a school division; it’s a responsibility we take extremely seriously. The teacher is not working in any Division schools or buildings. At this time, we do not have additional details to share.”
Dawson and Nelson were both released on several conditions, including being banned from contacting anyone younger than 16.
ICE investigators are urging anyone with more information on the case to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Several cases resulting in charges against Edmonton teachers have occurred in the past few months.
Edmonton-area substitute teacher 47-year-old Eric Matheson-Jones was arrested by ICE in May with assistance from the Edmonton Police Service and charged with accessing, possession, and transmitting child pornography.
ICE charged Edmonton teacher Jimmy Buena of St. Oscar Romero Catholic High School in June with making, accessing, possessing, and transmitting child pornography and issued a warrant for his arrest. Investigators said they believe he has left the country.
