Lifetime ban for B.C. teacher who printed child pornography using school equipment
A B.C. teacher who had child pornography sent to his work email address and used school equipment to print the images has been banned from the profession for life, according to the province's regulatory body.
Details of the case were outlined in a consent resolution agreement between Luke Lawson and the British Columbia Commissioner for Teacher Regulation that was posted online Tuesday.
An investigation into Lawson was launched in 2020, when he was employed as a counsellor at an independent school. The name of the school is not provided, nor is information about which district it is in.
In September of that year, according to the agreement, police searched Lawson's home, "where they discovered printed images of nude young girls, as well as further digital images on his work computer."
He was arrested that day and released with conditions, including not to be in contact with any minors.
The next day, a search warrant was executed at the school.
"Police determined that pornographic images had been sent to his work account and printed at the school and sent to his work email," the agreement continues. Lawson was suspended that day.
None of the young people in the images were students, the agreement notes, saying the photos came from "nudist and naturalism websites."
In November of 2021, Lawson pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography. In 2022, he was sentenced to four months in jail followed by 18 months of probation, according to the agreement.
Lawson agreed to the lifetime ban on teaching, which the commissioner determined was an appropriate consequence given the seriousness of the misconduct.
"Lawson failed to act ethically and undermined the credibility of the teaching profession by violating laws that protect children from sexual exploitation," the agreement reads.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.