A grade 2 teacher at an elementary school in B.C.'s Fraser Valley has been charged with two counts of sexual assault stemming from a complaint from his school district.
Charges against Jason Epp, who teaches at Sardis Elementary School, stem from alleged incidents that occurred this school year between September 2009 and May 2010. It is not known if the alleged incidents happened in his classroom or if they involve any of his students.
The Chilliwack School District learned about the allegations on Friday, April 30. After conferencing all weekend, the district alerted RCMP May 3 about a single allegation of sexual assault. Epp was put on paid leave from the school the same day.
"These are very serious allegations, and that's why the Chilliwack RCMP Serious Crime unit immediately launched an investigation as soon as the school district brought the matter to our attention," said Sgt. Peter Thiessen, spokesperson for the RCMP Lower Mainland District Regional Police Service.
The 38-year-old was arrested May 12. He is charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference of a person under 16.
Epp was released on bail May 13. He is prohibited from having contact with any current or former students, as well as not attending any public park, school ground, daycare centre, swimming pool, playground, skating rink, community centre or recreational centre where persons under the age of 16 years are present.
His next court appearance is scheduled for June 1.
The B.C. College of Teachers says it has no public record of discipline from previous incidents involving Epp.
RCMP say they have already conducted extensive interviews but are urging parents to come forward if they have any concerns the police may not know about.
The charges against Epp come two weeks after Metro Vancouver elementary school teacher Aleksandr Plehanov was charged with sex-related charges involving his former students.
Those allegations of sexual interference, sexual exploitation and sexual assault involve young girls in at least two Coquitlam schools.
