School principal's case on child pornography charges delayed as lawyer awaits further disclosure
Client: “B.C.”
Charge: Possessing and accessing child pornography.
Defence: Client has been charged with offences relating to child sexual abuse materials following an investigation by ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation unit.
A Calgary Pending further disclosure has delayed the case of a Calgary elementary school principal who is facing child pornography charges.
Defence counsel Alain Hepner appeared in Calgary Court of Justice on Wednesday and indicated Crown prosecutor Jenny Rees has said there will be more information coming from investigators.
Hepner asked Justice Bruce Fraser to adjourn B.C.s case for a month while he awaits the additional disclosure from the prosecution.
B.C, 61, was charged April 16, by officers with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT). He was employed as the principal at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Calgary’s Sunalta neighbourhood.
At the time, police indicated there was no indication there was any inappropriate conduct by B.C toward any of the students.
“Currently, we believe these offences are solely related to online activities, but can appreciate how parents and students would be shocked and concerned about these charges,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Auger, of ALERT’s Internet and Child Exploitation Unit.
Police allege B.C uploaded child sexual abuse materials via the online communications service Skype. They began investigating when the RCMP’s national child exploitation unit informed ALERT of his alleged activities in January this year.
Investigators searched the principal’s home, seizing a number of phones and computers.
Police analysis of those devices found child pornography on B.C’s work-issued cellphone, according to ALERT. They indicated further forensic examination of B.C’s devices was ongoing.
“While the investigation and charges are related to online offences, the nature of B.C’s employment placed him in a position of trust and authority,” ALERT said in a statement.
The Calgary Catholic School District said in a written statement that B.C is no longer employed by the board.
B.C, who was not in court on Wednesday, remains at liberty pending an outcome to the case.
Source: The Calgary Herald