RCMP east of Edmonton have laid charges against a teacher in his 30s, stemming from alleged sexual offences against a student, dating back to as early as March 2013.
Strathcona County RCMP said Brett Daniel Mittelsteadt, 32, was facing charges of sexual interference, sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching, child luring, committing a sexual offence against a child and sexual assault.
It’s alleged the teacher with the Elk Island Catholic School Division is charged in relation to a female student, and it’s alleged the offences took place between March 2013 and September 2014.
RCMP wouldn’t confirm whether the incidents happened on school property.
The school division released a statement Wednesday that said the charges stem from “an inappropriate relationship with a minor.”
The division said there is a standard process in place to address safety needs of students – and said the accused has been suspended from his duties effective immediately, and “no longer has access to any students within Elk Island Catholic Schools Division”.
Division Superintendent Michael Hauptman called the situation ‘gut-wrenching’.
“These people are part of our family, I know the staff in this community, it doesn’t matter who it would be, I’d feel the same way,” Hauptman said.
RCMP said a complaint about this came in on Monday, February 2, 2015.
“From a police perspective these are investigations we don’t enter into very lightly and an investigation we’ll throw our full resources at,” Cpl. Darren Anderson with Strathcona County RCMP said.
Mittelsteadt is scheduled to appear in court in Sherwood Park on Wednesday, March 11.
The school division said officials will cooperate with RCMP throughout their investigation.
With files from Veronica Jubinville
