Ontario principal arrested in multi-city sexual exploitation investigation

A Waterloo, Ont., elementary school principal is facing multiple child sexual exploitation charges following a joint investigation that involved the London, Toronto and Waterloo police services.

Phillip Sallewsky, 55, of Kitchener,allegedly communicated online with multiple teenage girls using Snapchatand shared sexually explicit text messages and pictures, police allege.

Over the course of the investigation that started in February, police said Sallewsky used multiple usernames, including "Sam"and "Chuck".

London Police spokespersonSandasha Bough saidthe accusedarranged to meet with one of the girls in Burlington on Thursday, where he was arrested and placed in the custody ofLondon police.

CBCNewshas learned that Sallewsky is a principal at Northlake Woods Public Schoolin Waterloo. Estefania Brandenstein, the communications officer for the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), said in an email thatshe is unable to discuss any particulars of the case as the matter is now in front of the courts.

BrandensteinsaidSallewskyis no longer allowed onWRDSB school properties or has access to school boardcommunication tools.

Sallewsky is facing 17 charges, including:

• Five counts of luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication.
• Two counts of invitation to sexual touching under 16 years of age.
• Sexual assault.
• Sexual interference with person under 16 years of age.
• Luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication.
• Three counts of transmitting sexually explicit material to a person under 16 years of age.
• Luring a person under 18 years of age by means of telecommunication.
• Print/publish/possess to publish child pornography.
• Import/sell/distribute, etc. child pornography.
• Unlawfully possess child pornography.

Police would not release information about the location or number ofvictimsbut said no one sustained any physical injuries.

Sallewsky is scheduled to appear in a London court on May 11.

London police are also asking anyone with information in relation to this case to call519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).