Teacher guilty of sex charges
Former Tweed teacher had sexual intercourse with three teen boys
A former Tweed Elementary School French teacher who had sexual intercourse with three of her eight teenage victims, six of whom were former students, has pleaded guilty to seven offences.
Jaclyn McLaren, who had sexual intercourse with three of the boys, two of whom where under the age of 16, stood before Justice Stephen Hunter and uttered “guilty” to seven of the 42 offences she was charged with in February 2016.
Assistant Crown attorney Lynn Ross read a sexually charged agreed statement of facts which exposed how, over several years, despite warnings in 2013 from her superiors to desist from carrying on as social media friends with her students, McLaren went from exchanging nude photos and videos on social media to performing oral sex and intercourse with some of the boys.
McLaren’s sexual deviance, which included performing sexual acts in the back of her vehicle, spanned from 2013 to 2016, when she was arrested.
Ononeoccasion,in2014,McLaren “purchased beer and consumed it with two boys, then engaged in sexual activity with them in her vehicle,” Ross read from the agreed statement. “She performed oral sex on both boys before she left.”
She had intercourse with one teen boy at her residence, just after he had turned 18, Ross said. Phone messages uncovered by police detailed the encounter.
Police would later find one of the victim’s DNA in the vehicle.
McLaren at one point expressed concern about losing her career if her explicit social media exchanges were discovered. She repeatedly used Snapchat, to send photos and videos of her naked breasts and vagina.
McLaren claimed she wasn’t aware the boys were minors, but didn’t take necessary steps to confirm their age.
“There are eight victims who received explicit material from Ms. McLaren,” Ross told the court. “Six of the victims were former students of Ms McLaren.”
A stream of victims started coming forward after an investigation was launched Feb. 14, 2016 when one of the parents became suspicious of the nature of the relationship the former French teacher had with their son.
They contacted another family, only to uncover both boys had had sexual encounters with McLaren. They reported it to the Central Hastings OPP.
“She pled guilty to seven counts,” Ross told the press after the hearing. “They’re representative of the 42 counts and in some cases where amended to include multiple victims in one count.”
Ross now awaits the forthcoming pre-sentence sexual-behaviour assessment from psychologist Dr. Tony Eccles. That will help determine the jail term the Crown will seek.
“I intend to be guided, to a great extent, by the recommendations of Dr. Eccles,” Ross told the press after the plea hearing.
The Crown has already consulted with the defence as to what the appropriate range may be, but Ross stopped short of saying a number, only saying a penitentiary term is possible.
McLaren plead guilty to sexual exploitation, luring, possessing child pornography, sexual interference and making explicit material available.
Four of the victims were younger than 18 while the balance were all under the age of 16.
The matter will go to May 19 for sentencing.
Defence lawyer Pieter Kort said his client “did the best thing that she knew to do, and that was plead guilty and take responsibility for what happened.”
“She knew (by) pleading guilty that it would be the end of her career,” Kort said following the hearing.
The case has cast a shadow over the McLaren household.
“It’s been a horrible time for her and her family,” he said. “She feels terrible about it, that’s why she plead guilty.”
Kort said his client is bracing for a jail sentence, the length of such a term now hinges partly on the presentence report, which will be ready for the May 19 sentencing. Justice Stephen Hunter will also weigh the facts of the case in order to reach a sentence.
“There will have to be a jail sentence imposed given the offences she pled guilty to,” said Kort.
KortdescribedMcLaren’sparents, who walked to and from the Quinte Courthouse with her Tuesday, as hard working people who have a long history in the area.