An assistant teacher who worked with special needs kids in B.C.'s Okanagan region has been charged with trying to lure a child online.
Police arrested 34-year-old Stephen Hughes at his Summerland home on June 17, and he has now been charged with luring a child using a computer and invitation to sexual touching.
RCMP are releasing few details about the investigation because of a publication ban placed on the case.
Wendy Hyer, superintendent of the Okanagan Skaha School District, told ctvbc.ca that Hughes was a casual certified educational assistant.
"He would work with kids who have learning disabilities, behaviour designations, special needs," she said.
He is no longer employed by the district, and Hyer said officials don't believe that anything inappropriate went on while Hughes was on school property.
Sgt. Bev Csikos of the Mounties' Integrated Child Exploitation team said the charges should serve as a reminder for parents to monitor their children's computer time.
"Parents should be aware of who their children are communicating with on the internet," she told ctvbc.ca.
Suspicious online activity can reported at cybertip.ca, a website operated by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
Hughes has been released from custody pending his next court appearance on Aug. 10.
