Skip to content

Fergus elementary school teacher facing child porn charges

The Ontario College of Teachers said Darwin Harrison, an elementary school teacher in Fergus, was charged in Guelph last month
20220804handcuffed

A teacher with the Upper Grand District School Board in Fergus is reportedly facing child pornography charges.

The teacher, identified by the Ontario College of Teachers as Darwin Harrison, was charged with one count each of possession of child pornography, making child pornography available and accessing child pornography.

Harrison is listed as a long-term occasional teacher at J.D. Hogarth Public School in Fergus. The UGDSB said Harrison is "not actively at work" at this time.

A note on the college's website said Harrison was arrested April 13.

When GuelphToday inquired about the arrest with Guelph police, a police spokesperson provided a report of an incident made public in a news release issued a week before, on April 6. That release did not name the person arrested.

In the release, Guelph police said a 38-year-old Guelph man was arrested following a two-month investigation, which involved a search warrant being executed at an apartment in the west end of the city in February.

"A number of devices were seized for further investigation," police said in a news release.

Guelph police added it does not release names of accused people except under specific circumstances.

"In this case we did not believe those circumstances were applicable," police spokesperson Scott Tracey said.

Harrison's profile on the OCT website said he earned his Bachelor of Education from Western University in 2021 and before that earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph.

In a statement to GuelphToday, a spokesperson with the Upper Grand District School Board confirmed the teacher is not actively at work, but was not able to discuss details of personnel matters.

"We understand that some in the community may have questions regarding the charges reported, however we are unable to discuss matters involving police investigations," said board spokesperson Heather Loney. "All questions about the investigation and charges must be directed to Guelph police.

"The safety of all students is always our top priority."

Harrison is due in a Guelph court May 16.