A teacher at Ashley Oaks Public School initially charged with voyeurism now faces a total of 19 charges, including making child pornography.
Jamie Gardiner, 37, faces 17 counts of voyeurism, one count of making child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
Police were called to the school on March 11 after a camera was found inside a backpack that had been left in a change room.
Af first, investigators identified two adult victims and Gardiner was charged with two counts of voyeurism.
Since then, a total of 20 female victims have been identified. Of those 20, eight are staff members at the Thames Valley District School Board and seven were adult co-op students from other schools. Four have yet to be identified and police say one teenage student under the age of 18 was filmed.
Officials say the recordings date back to as early as 2011.
Gardiner has been suspended and put on "home duties" pending the outcome of the investigation.
He is scheduled to appear in court next month.
School board officials are sending the following letter home with students:
Dear Parents and Guardians,London Police Services notified the Thames Valley District School Board today that several more charges have been laid against suspended teacher Jamie Gardiner. Police have identified a total of 20 female victims on video recordings made at Ashley Oaks Public School. The victims are TVDSB staff and co-op students from other educational institutions. Four victims are unidentified.
All of the identified victims are being offered support services.
You will appreciate the sensitive nature of these charges and the need to respect the privacy of all of the individuals involved in this matter. We are cooperating fully with London Police and we are grateful for the professionalism of the officers.
As our main focus is on the safety and well-being of students, staff and our school community, the Board’s Traumatic Events Response Team is available to provide support during this difficult time.
The Thames Valley District School Board is committed to providing safe environments to learn and work and the Board is profoundly disappointed by these events. The Board expresses its deepest sympathy to the victims, their families and to the school community.
We realize this is extremely upsetting and we will offer support to the victims, their families and other members of the school community as long as it is needed.
Thank you for your understanding and if you have any questions please forward them to my office at 519-452-8040. Questions that relate to the police investigation should be directed to London Police at 519-661-5410.
Yours truly,
Lorraine Brown, Principal