Nova Scotia High School Teacher Charged with Child Luring
Bennett Gordon Thomas, a 33-year-old teacher at Woodlawn High School in Dartmouth, N.S., has been charged with luring a child and making sexually explicit material available to a child following an RCMP investigation. He has been placed on leave and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 16.
A 33-year-old teacher from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, has been arrested and charged with luring a child and making sexually explicit material available to a child.
Bennett Gordon Thomas is a staff member at Woodlawn High School in Dartmouth. The Halifax Regional Centre for Education confirmed his employment and stated that he has been placed on leave.
The Nova Scotia RCMP launched the investigation on Oct. 30 after learning that an online user in the Halifax area had communicated with a youth for a sexual purpose. Investigators identified Thomas as the suspect on Nov. 6.
Thomas was arrested on Monday during a traffic stop near his residence. Police seized electronic devices at the time of his arrest and subsequently executed a search warrant at his home on Flying Cloud Drive.
Following his arrest, Thomas was released under strict conditions. He is required to remain in Nova Scotia, have no communication with anyone under the age of 18, avoid places where children gather, and restrict his internet use to specific necessities. He is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on Dec. 16.
The RCMP's Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Unit is handling the case. Authorities believe additional victims may have been targeted and are urging parents to discuss online safety with their children.
In response to the charges, the school principal notified parents, and counsellors have been made available to students.