Junior school teacher arrested on child porn charges

Police seize images of boys aged 5 to 12

A teacher was arrested at a Toronto junior school and is now facing child pornography charges after police raided a west-end home Tuesday.

Stewart Adams, 46, is a teacher at Kingsview Village Junior School, near Islington Ave. and Dixon Rd.

He is charged with possessing child pornography, making child pornography, making available child pornography and accessing child pornography.

“The making pornography charge does not have to do with production of the images,” said Const. Janelle Blackadar, who is leading the investigation. “The charge can include production, but in this case it’s not part of the allegation.”

The charges come after a home near Kipling Ave. and Eglinton Ave. W. was searched on Tuesday following an undercover police sting that found the explicit images of boys ranging from 5 to 12 years of age. When officers didn’t find Adams at the residence they went to Kingsview and arrested him there.

More than 700 kindergarten to Grade 5 students attend Kingsview.

In a letter sent Tuesday to parents of the school’s students, principal Sheila Chichelnik wrote: “I want to emphasize that, as far as we are aware, any charges do not involve any students from our school.”

Adams has been at the school for 11 years and has also worked at Park Lawn Junior Middle School, Wellesworth Junior School and Lanor Junior Middle School in Toronto, said Blackadar.

Kelly Baker, communications coordinator for the Toronto District School Board, said the TDSB will be conducting its own investigation into the allegations.

She stressed that all TDSB employees — teachers and nonteachers alike — must undergo a vigorous screening process, including an initial police background check and an annual offence declaration.

In the meantime, Adams has been ordered to stay at home “pending outcome of this matter,” according to Chichelnik’s letter. He will continue to receive his regular pay until the investigation is concluded, said Baker.

An information meeting for parents will be held Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the school’s staff room, where police will be on hand to answer questions.

Adams was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning.

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