Bishop Mcnally High School Teacher Charged with Sexual Offences against Student

Calgary Herald
May 31, 2017

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/bishop-mcnally-high-school-teacher-arrested-over-alleged-sexual-offences-against-student

Allegations of inappropriate sexual contact with a student have led to the arrest of a teacher at a northeast high school.

The Calgary police child-abuse unit announced that a 45-year-old Bishop McNally High School teacher is facing charges in connection with sexual offences dating back more than a decade.

Police began investigating in January 2017 after a former student at the high school reported she had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a teacher between 2007 and 2009.

The alleged incidents occurred at several residences in Calgary and the school, police said.

“Despite the age of consent in 2007 being 14, the suspect was in a position of trust and authority over the victim for the duration of alleged offences,” police said in a news release.

Edwin Cay Arias, 45, of Calgary, was charged early Wednesday morning with sexual contact with a youth by a person in authority and sexual assault. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 20.

Staff Sgt. Dominic Mayhew said police are not aware of any other victims, but can’t exclude the possibility.

“I think that this is a circumstance wherein a historic allegation 10 years later, there is always that possibility,” said Mayhew.

“At the time of the investigation, it is not believed that there was any other victims, at the time the victim came forward.”

He added he believes the teacher was still employed at the northeast school at the time of his arrest. Arias is listed as a physical education teacher on the Bishop McNally website.

Mayhew said the investigation is focused on the contact that happened between 2007 and 2009.

“The vast majority of the contact occurred during those initial years,” he said.

He added that victims process information differently.

“When victims feel that they’re comfortable coming forward, we encourage all people, regardless of when the offence occurred, to come forward and to let police know,” said Mayhew.

Police say they are looking to speak to anyone who has information.

In a separate news release issued Tuesday evening, the Calgary Catholic School District acknowledged the charges against the teacher and will be speaking on the matter Wednesday afternoon.