A former Westpark Middle School teacher is facing 26 charges, including seven sexual assault counts and numerous child pornography-related offences.
New charges, in addition to five child sexual exploitation charges laid against the teacher last December, came to light in Red Deer provincial court Wednesday morning.
The accused is facing seven counts of sexual contact with a minor, three charges each of sexual counselling of a minor and making sexually explicit material available to someone under 16.
Other charges include possessing, accessing and making, printing or publishing child pornography; sexual exploitation, making sexually explicit material available to someone under 18 and extortion.
The 61-year-old former teacher was initially accused of five sexual offences that allegedly occurred during the school Christmas break last year.
He was charged with invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation of a child, sexual exploitation, luring a child, making, printing or publishing child pornography, and sexual contact with a child.
The accused was not present in court Wednesday morning. His case was adjourned until May 1.
He was released previously on $3,000 bail, including conditions that he not be allowed in the presence of children or youth under the age of 16, except with the written permission of his bail supervisor or in the presence of a responsible adult who is aware of the charges.
Red Deer Public Schools fired the teacher when the allegations came to light.
A special prosecutor from Calgary has been appointed to oversee the case.
This story was updated on May 1, 2019 to reflect the total number of charges is now 26, not 31 as previously reported.