The Independent

A Sarnia teacher is facing nine sex charges in an investigation involving a number of students.

Sarnia Police began the probe after finding evidence of a teacher engaged in criminal conduct with a number of students between 2023 and 2024 while he was a teacher at Ecole Secondaire Catholique St. Francois Xavier in Sarnia, including sexual abuse of students.

Feb. 20, officers from the Major Case action Team executed a search warrant on Errol Road seizing evidence in the case.

Kevin Partington, 33, of Sarnia is facing four charges of sexual assault, four charges of sexual exploitation, making child pornography and break and enter. After a bail hearing, he was held in custody.

Police notified the school board of the arrest.

In a statement to the media, the school board said “The employee in question was on administrative leave at the time of their arrest.  We continue to work collaboratively with the Sarnia police service.”

Police believe there may be additional victims or witnesses who have not yet come forward. They’re encouraged to contact the Sarnia Police Service at 519-344-8861 or Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-8477.

School board officials say students who needed additional support because of the incident were able to receive help from a specialized team Monday. “As always, our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” said the board in a statement.

There was some confusion surrounding the arrest. Saturday, Sarnia police issued a news release about the investigation and arrest, then removed it, saying they’d been notified by a lawyer involved in the case that some of the contents of the news release may have been part of a publication ban imposed by the court during the bail hearing.

Monday afternoon, police said the publication ban restricts the publication of evidence, information, or representations made in the bail hearing, along with the reasons for the detention decision.

Police say their original release only sets out the charges, investigative context, and operational steps