Two Edmonton Teachers Charged with Child Pornography Offences
Two educators from the Edmonton area, Katz Dawson and Allan Nelson, have been arrested and charged with offences related to child pornography. The arrests were made following an investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT).
Details of the Arrests and Charges
Katz Dawson, 36, a teacher at Lillian Osborne High School, is charged with accessing and possessing child pornography. Students at the school identified Dawson as a foods teacher. Allan Nelson, 32, who taught music lessons from his home business, offering lessons at Fiddle & Fugue, faces similar charges of possessing and accessing child pornography.
The investigation began after ALERT received a tip from the RCMP’s National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip involved a suspect sharing child sexual abuse materials online through the messaging app Kik.
Police Investigation and Findings
On September 11, investigators searched the Edmonton residence shared by Dawson and Nelson. During the search, a number of computers and electronic devices were seized. Subsequent analysis of these devices revealed child sexual abuse materials. Nelson was charged on September 16, while Dawson was charged on September 18.
Statements from Authorities and the School Board
Const. Stephanie Bosch, an officer with the ICE unit, emphasized the public concern, stating, "These are people that kids have trusted, that we trusted as parents to look out for them. And now they're being charged with these offences... We understand that this is going to impact the community greatly."
Edmonton Public Schools released a statement affirming their cooperation with the police investigation and confirming that Dawson is not currently working in any division schools or buildings. "The safety and well-being of students is at the core of our commitment as a school division; it is a responsibility we take extremely seriously," the statement read.
Legal Conditions and Call for Information
Both Dawson and Nelson have been released on court-imposed conditions, including a restriction on contacting anyone under the age of 16. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information related to this investigation to contact the police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Key Details Summarized
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Accused | Katz Dawson, Allan Nelson |
| Charges | Possessing and accessing child pornography |
| Location | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Investigation Trigger | Tip from RCMP’s National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children |
| Contact Information | Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 |
