Ottawa police have charged a teacher with the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) in connection with alleged sexual offences against a student, and investigators say they are worried there may be other victims.
What police have announced
Police charged Nancy Lescarbeau, 52, of Ottawa, who is employed by the OCSB as a teacher. The charges relate to what police describe as "historical incidents involving a student that occurred between 2021 and 2022."
The list of charges is long. According to police, they include:
- sexual assault
- sexual interference
- invitation to sexual touching
- invitation to exposure
- forcible confinement
- intimidation by threats of violence
- assault with a weapon
- assault
These are charges, not findings. None of the allegations has been tested in court, and the accused is presumed innocent unless and until a court decides otherwise.
What the school board says
The OCSB said that when the Ottawa Police Service informed the board of the situation, the teacher was immediately removed from the classroom. The board's statement, as reported by Global News, does not go further than that in the material available to ottown.
A number of details have not been made public. Police have not said which school the teacher worked at, what grade or subject was taught, or when the charges were laid. Nothing has been announced about a court date or whether the teacher remains employed by the board. We will update this story if any of that is released.
Police believe there may be more victims
Police said investigators are concerned there may be other victims. They are asking anyone with information to contact the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944.
For parents and students in the Ottawa area, the practical point is that the investigation is described as ongoing in its reach, and police are actively seeking more information. Anyone who has experienced or witnessed something relevant, whether recently or years ago, can use the number above rather than trying to work out on their own whether it matters. Police specifically describe the incidents at the centre of this case as historical, which is a reminder that reports can come forward long after the events they describe.
What this means for Ottawa families
At this point, the only response on record from the board is that the teacher was removed from the classroom immediately once police informed the board. Whether the board will say more about its process has not been announced.
The Ottawa Police Service's Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit is the point of contact for anyone with information related to this investigation.
Sources: Ottawa Police Service, Global News
