A North Vancouver teacher and director of the Argyle Concert Band has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor.
North Vancouver RCMP said Chad Jeremy Smith, a Langley resident, allegedly carried out the offence on a female student between October 2012 and December 2014.
Sexual exploitation is a charge applied to an adult accused of sexually assaulting a minor over whom they are in a position of authority. A publication ban prevents the release of any information that might identify the victim.
The RCMP arrested 39-year-old Smith on Aug. 27. He has been released on bail.
A statement from the North Vancouver school district confirms that Smith has been a teacher at Argyle secondary since 2005, but privacy legislation prevents the district from releasing any further details about his employment history.
“The allegations were brought directly to the RCMP by a former student and the School District has no record or knowledge of any prior incidents of misconduct by Mr. Smith towards other students,” read the statement. “(Smith) was placed on suspension, without pay, following his arrest and will remain on suspension throughout the course of these proceedings. This is the school district’s standard procedure when charges of this kind are laid against an employee and reflects the board’s paramount concern for student safety and wellbeing.”
The alleged exploitation happened in North Vancouver. Smith is due back in North Vancouver provincial court on Sept. 9.
The district has assigned its critical incident team to provide counselling support for staff or students in need, according to the district.
Police said there is no specific reason to suspect Smith was involved with other students, but if anyone believes they may be a victim, they should come forward.
All district employees, including teachers, are “informed of, and expected to abide by policy, procedures and unambiguous professional codes of conduct and ethics in relation to student safety,” the school district’s statement continued. “Administrators review all board policies with respect to standards of appropriate conduct and interaction with students at the beginning of each school year.”
Smith has yet to enter a plea. None of the allegations has yet been proven in court.
