Music teacher in court on child-sex charges

A Calgary music teacher made a brief court appearance Friday on a series of charges announced by police this week.

Christian Allen Sarile, 27, appeared via closed-circuit television on the 37 new charges, which include eight counts of making sexually explicit material available to a child, 11 counts of communication for the purpose of obtaining sexual services of a child, and numerous counts of extortion, sexual assault, sexual interference and child luring, as well as accessing and distributing child pornography.

Sarile will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Feb. 16, 2018.

The former teacher now faces a total of 49 charges, including charges laid in May and earlier this month. Police allege Sarile posed as a young teen online and solicited sexual images and favours from children as young as 12 in exchange for cash or gifts.

One instance allegedly took place in 2009 and another in 2011, with the rest believed to have occurred from 2015 onward.

After his arrest in May, Sarile was released with strict conditions not to use the internet or communicate with those under 16 years of age. On Dec. 7, he was again arrested after police say he violated those conditions.

He faces six charges in connection with that arrest — including sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and three breaches of recognizance.