B.C. teacher charged with sexual exploitation, luring a child - Action News
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British Columbia

B.C. teacher charged with sexual exploitation, luring a child

RCMP say the alleged offences took place over social media.

Alleged offences took place over social media, RCMP say

A close-up picture of an RCMP badge.
RCMP in B.C.'s Columbia Valley say a teacher has been charged with three offences connected to inappropriate communication with a child over the internet. (CBC)

RCMP in British Columbia's Columbia Valley say a teacher in Invermere, B.C.,has been arrested and charged for inappropriatecommunication with a child.

Cpl. James Grandy says Jason Walker wascharged Tuesday with sexual exploitation, making sexually explicit material available to a child and luring a child following an investigation into ateacher at David Thompson Secondary.

"The offences took place over the internet, specifically social media," Grandy said in a written release. "As such, investigators believe it may be possible other individuals are aware of these offences."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Columbia Valley RCMP at250-342-9292.

Police say Walker was arrested and "placed on a number of conditions." He is scheduled to appear in court on March 4.

Invermereis about 520 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, near the B.C.-Alberta border, with a population of roughly 3,900. David Thompson is the only public high school in the community.

Online exploitation in provincial crosshairs

Online exploitation of children has been the target of several recent announcements and initiatives from the provincial government.

Premier David Eby announced last month a series of measures to help protect children, which include moves to limit to use of cellphones in classrooms, the launch of a service to remove intimate images from the internet and "pursue predators," and plans to introduce legislation holding social media companies accountable for harms they have caused.

WATCH | New measures aimed at improving online safety for kids in B.C.:

B.C. launches action on online safety for kids after 12-year-old's death in 2023

8 months ago
Duration 2:07
An emotional appeal came from Ryan Cleland and Nicola Smith of Prince George, B.C., encouraging young people to ask for help when they're in vulnerable situations online. Their 12-year-old son, who died last year, was the victim of sextortion. As Meera Bains reports, the plea comes as B.C.'s government announces actions to keep kids and young adults safe.

With files from The Canadian Press