A high school teacher from Nova Scotia’s Kings County has been charged with sexual offences in connection with alleged incidents involving a teenager.
David Benjamin Harrison is facing charges of sexual exploitation, luring a child, and sexual assault.
The RCMP were contacted in July by the victim, who was 16 years old when the alleged incidents started in 2013.
“We can say that the victim and the accused were known to one another, but outside of that I cannot divulge any relationship or anything like that,” said Nova Scotia RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Clarke.
Police executed a search warrant at a Canaan, N.S. home on Tuesday and arrested a 39-year-old man at the scene.
“We were able to recover quite a bit of evidence from electronic devices with the assistance on the tech crime unit to support the victim’s claims,” Clarke said.
Harrison appeared in Kentville provincial court Wednesday and was released from custody on a $3,000 surety. He must abide by a number of conditions, including that he not have any contact with the alleged victim, or be around anyone under the age of 18, unless they are a family member or he is accompanied by an adult.
“Any time we’re dealing with any sort of sexual offences against children -- that is somebody under the age of 18 -- is serious,” said Crown Attorney Robert Morrison. “This one, there’s an added level of seriousness because he was in a position of trust or authority.”
The identity of his alleged victim is protected under a publication ban.
The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education has confirmed that Harrison is a teacher at the Northeast Kings Education Centre in Canning, N.S.
According to the school’s staff directory on its website, Harrison teaches Math 11, Pre-calculus 11 and 12, as well as Calculus 12.
School officials say Harrison has been placed on leave, although they wouldn’t say whether the leave is paid or unpaid. They also say parents and guardians have been notified.
“The nature of these charges is concerning, and we are cooperating fully with the RCMP,” said school officials. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of students.”
RCMP say they are not aware of any other possible victims.
“In any case, at any time, if someone is being victimized in this particular way of a sexual offence or any other offence we would encourage them to contact us,” Clarke said.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Harrison is scheduled to make his next appearance on Dec. 18.
Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact Kings District RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Natasha Pace.
