WARNING: This story contains disturbing descriptions of child sex abuse. Resources and supports for anyone who has experienced sexual violence can be found at the bottom of this story.
Investigators with Charlottetown Police Services say they didn’t learn about an alleged 2023 touching incident involving Matthew Craswell at West Kent Elementary School until one of the girls’ parents brought it to them 14 months later.
Det.-Sgt. Darren MacDougall told CBC News in an email that a parent came to Charlottetown police in August 2024 “inquiring about the status of an investigation involving her daughter of inappropriate touching by a teacher at her school.”
MacDougall’s email continued: “The parent reported the incident to the school in June 2023 and assumed the school engaged police. However, police were not informed of the incident.”
Last month, Craswell pleaded guilty to sexually touching a student at Glen Stewart Primary School in Stratford in April 2024 while he was a substitute teacher, as well …