A Lethbridge police investigation into accusations of sexual assaults on minors, has resulted in charges against a 37-year-old Lethbridge resident, a teacher at Raymond Elementary School in Raymond, Alberta.
According to police, the investigation was launched following reports of an assault on a 9-year-old boy during the summer of 2013.
The Lethbridge Regional Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Section confirmed the accusations and determined the suspect had sexually assaulted a second victim.
The second victim met the suspect in 2005, when the victim was 9-years-old, and sexual assaults are alleged to have occurred between June 2008 and July 2012.
On January 23, police arrested 37-year-old Jamey Byran Kristian in connection to the sexual assaults.
Kristian faces the following charges:
- Two counts of sexual assault
- Two counts of sexual interference
- Two counts of sexual exploitation
- One count of invitation to sexual touching
Kristian appeared in court Friday morning and will remain in police custody until Monday, January 27.
Following the arrest of Kristian, the Westwinds School Division released the following statement, dated January 24, to parents of students who attend Raymond Elementary School:
In keeping with our school’s commitment to open communication with our community, I am writing to advise you that this morning Lethbridge Regional Police charged a 37-year-old Lethbridge man in connection with the sexual assault of two boys.
Jamey Byran Kristian is charged with two counts each of sexual assault, sexual interference, sexual exploitation and one count of invitation to sexual touching.
Kristian, a teacher at Raymond Elementary School, appeared in court this morning and has been remanded in custody until Jan. 27. Investigation in the matter is ongoing.As this matter is now before the courts, I cannot speak to any specifics of the situation, but I did want to remind you of the principles that guide our division’s response to such circumstances.
Student safety is our number 1 priority. If and when allegations of this nature surface, we launch an internal review of the circumstances and based on the information we gather, we take the steps to ensure our students are safe. Specifically we make arrangements such that any individual facing serious allegations of this nature is not in contact with students, pending the outcome of the legal process and a further longer term internal review of the circumstances.
Westwind School Division will co-operate fully with authorities in their investigation and will have supports available for students when school resumes Monday morning.
Westwind School Division is guided in its actions and decisions by our commitment to student safety; respect for the legal processes, our responsibilities under the School Act and our personnel practices.
As this is at its core a delicate personnel matter now being dealt with through the courts, I will not be in a position to share any further information; however I did want to communicate what I could.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to get in touch with me, recognizing that I can’t share much more information than what is enclosed in this letter.
Yours truly,
Westwind Superintendent of Schools, Ken Sommerfeldt
