Calgary police charge Bishop McNally High School teacher with sexual assault against student

Calgary police have charged BishopMcNallyHigh School phys ed teacher Edwin Cay Arias with sex offences in relation to a former student.

Arias, 45, was charged Wednesday morning with sexual assault and sexual contact with a youth by a person in authority.

Police revealed Tuesday they had arrested a teacher from the northeast high school after beginning an investigation back in January.

• Bishop McNally teacher accused of sexually assaulting student starting in 2007 faces charges

Staff Sgt. Dominic Mayhew said the charges relate to "an inappropriate sexual relationship" the teacher had with a student at the high school between 2007 and 2009.

The victim was 16 years old when the offences began, according to police.

The offences are alleged to have occurred at several homes in Calgary and at the school.

School made aware in January

Mayhew said the investigation focuses on contact between the student and teacher from 2007 to 2009.

"Between 2009 and today's date I would say there's been limited contact and the vast majority of the contact occurred during those initial years," he said.

Calgary Catholic School Board spokesperson Tanya Van Brunt said Arias has been a teacher at the school since 2005.

She said school officials were made aware of thepolice investigation in late January and despite that, Arias kept teaching thereuntil Tuesday.

"We worked with the Calgary Police Service," she said."They felt there was no immediate risk to students in the buildingdue to the historical nature of the charges, so we cooperated with the police, with their investigation and we deferred to their expertise."

Position of trust and authority

There is notime limitfor reporting sexual assaults, saidMayhew.

"I can't comment specifically on how the victim felt during the time but, obviously, I think it's safe to say that at some pointshe decided to come forward and make a report of what she felt was inappropriate," he said.

"We encourage all people, regardless of when the offence occurred, to come forward and to let police know, when they feel comfortable to do so."

Police noted the age of consent in Canada was 14 at the time but said the offences were still criminal because the teacher was in a position of trust and authority over the student.

"Specifically when it comes to teachers in positions of authority, consent is certainly looked at a little bit differently," Mayhew said.

Police don't believe there were any other victims but said anyone who wishes to make a report or any witnessescan contact their non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.

• MORE REGIONAL NEWS |Fries with that? Motorist charged after feeding bear in Kootenay no-stopping zone
• MORE REGIONAL NEWS |'He was fighting like crazy': Man charged in assault on paramedics, police after Deerfoot Trail crash