Ontario teacher accused of 36 sex crimes, making pornography involving youths aged 12 to 15
Jaclyn McLaren appears in an online photo. McLaren, 36, was charged Feb. 15, 2016 with the first of dozens of sex crimes involving minors.
BELLEVILLE ON, Canada — A woman accused of 36 sex crimes involving minors is a teacher, police have revealed.
Jaclyn Lindsay McLaren, also known as Jaclyn (Jackie) Jones, 36, of Stirling, Ont., is free on a $100,000 bond and strict conditions after her bail hearing Friday in Belleville court.
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McLaren is now charged with three counts of making child pornography and one count of making sexually explicit material available to children.
She’s also charged with four counts each of sexual assault on a person younger than 16, sexual interference with a person younger than 16 and making an invitation to sexual touching involving a person younger than 16.
McLaren is charged further with eight counts of sexual exploitation, six counts of luring a person younger than 16 and six counts of making sexually explicit material available to a person under 16.
Leon said the exploitation charge relates to crimes committed by someone in position of trust, while the luring charge relates to “making an offer to meet, to carry out something.”
Police said they launched their investigation Feb. 14.
Board education director Mandy Savery-Whiteway said McLaren “is not at work.”
“Child and youth counsellors are at schools to support students, as needed,” she wrote in an e-mail.
“We are co-operating with police and will also be undertaking our own investigation. Student safety and well-being are always our first priorities at all times.”
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The Ontario College of Teachers directory lists McLaren as a specialist in teaching French as a second language. She’s listed as a member since 2008 and in good standing. “Good standing” means only that a person is a paid, registered member certified to teach in a given year, the website reads.
One of the unfortunate realities is that many members of the public operate under the presumption of guilt.
In an interview, McLaren’s lawyer, Pieter Kort, cautioned against rushing to judgment.
“One of the unfortunate realities is that many members of the public operate under the presumption of guilt,” he said.
Kort and Hastings County assistant Crown attorney Adam Zegouras made a joint submission that McLaren should be released and a publication ban on her name be lifted. Justice of the Peace Sam Cureatz agreed.
McLaren, who is of medium height with long black hair, entered the court wearing a long, black winter coat. She sat in the prisoner’s box while bound by handcuffs and leg shackles.
Publication bans prevent the release of any evidence heard during the bail hearing and the release of any information which could identify the minors.
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The justice of the peace outlined the conditions of McLaren’s release, including living with her parents, who must act as sureties accompany her whenever she leaves their home.
Cureatz ordered McLaren not to have any contact with the four minors or with any male person younger than 18. She must avoid public places where minors may gather and cannot have a mobile phone or pager. Any computers in her parents’ home were to be removed within 48 hours and McLaren must not possess weapons.
Once released from the prisoner’s box and unshackled, McLaren walked to her parents. She broke immediately into sobs as she hugged each of them.
McLaren is to return to court March 31.