Calgary, AB,
18
February
2021
|
10:36
America/Denver

Former teacher charged with sexual offences

A woman coming forward to report sexual misconduct that involved a former teacher nearly two-decades ago has resulted in 17 charges being laid for incidents alleged to have occurred over several years with six different victims.

The first victim contacted us in September 2020 and reported that in the summer of 2001, her teacher at John Ware Junior High School had undressed her and other female students during a canoe trip not sanctioned by the school, exposing them to him and their peers.

While investigating that allegation, detectives in the Sex Crimes Unit identified five other women who also report having been involved sexually with the same teacher while they were students between the years of 1999 and 2005.

It is believed that the teacher used his position of trust to groom female students and get them into situations where a range of sexual activities could occur, both with and without agreement from the students. Young people cannot give free and informed consent for any sexual activity with a person in a position of trust and authority over them, regardless of whether they say they agree to it or not.

Michael Andreassen GREGORY, 57, of De Winton, Alta., is charged with six counts of sexual assault and 11 counts of sexual exploitation in connection with these incidents.

GREGORY taught at John Ware Junior High School from August 1986 until September 2006.

“There can be a lot of confusion and mixed emotions when a young person experiences exploitation by someone they trusted,” said Staff Sergeant Michelle Doyle of the Calgary Police Service Sex Crimes Unit. “It can often take many years before the person looks back on it and realizes that what happened was not okay and that it needs to be reported.”

The investigation into these incidents is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact us by calling our non-emergency number at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: "P3 Tips"

This is the second case this week in which charges have been laid in connection with incidents that occurred decades ago. There is no statute of limitation on sex offences in Canada and we investigate all reported incidents, even if they occurred a long time ago.

Anyone who believes they are a victim of sexual assault is encouraged to report it to police no matter when the incident occurred.

Case #20364970/3522