Ex-teacher will be sentenced in May
Crown says jail time deserved after more than 1,000 pornographic images found
Editor’s note: This article contains descriptions of sex crimes against children that may be upsetting or disturbing for some readers. If you or anyone you know is in need of assistance, the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre runs a 24-hour crisis support line at 1-705-741-0260.
Investigators found more than 1,000 child pornography images on Thomas Christopher Cavanagh’s electronic devices following his arrest, the court heard on Tuesday as lawyers argued what sentence the former elementary school teacher should serve.
Last year, the former Grade 4 teacher at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School, in Douro, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, transmit sexually explicit material to a person under 18 years of age, and communicate with a person under 18 years of age to facilitate the making or sharing of child pornography.
Cavanagh, 48, was arrested and charged in November 2022 following a child pornography and child luring investigation conducted by Peterborough County OPP and the Child Sexual Exploitation Unit (SCEU).
On Tuesday, assistant Crown attorney Lisa Wannamaker submitted that a four-and-a-half-year sentence would be appropriate, while Cavanagh’s lawyer will argue for a conditional sentence at a later date when she brings an application forward to challenge the mandatory minimum sentence for child luring.
Currently, the mandatory minimum sentence is one year incarceration and doesn’t allow Cavanagh to serve his sentence on house arrest.
Wannamaker said the aggravating factors in the case call for incarceration.
“They are disturbing,” she said. According to the court facts, the
Former teacher Thomas Christopher Cavanagh used Twitter to lure minors into sending him child pornography
investigation was launched after a complaint was sent through the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline that an individual was claiming to be a school teacher and attempting to lure children via Twitter.
Through investigation, it was learned that Cavanagh used Twitter to lure minors into sending him child pornography. Through the social media platform, he received child pornography and sent pictures and videos of his own genitalia, court heard.
A total of 100 images and six videos were sent or received through Twitter. A further search of Cavanagh’s laptop and a cellphone surfaced almost 1,500 images and nine videos of child pornography. Although none of the victims in this case were students at the school, pictures and videos of Cavanagh’s genitalia appeared to have been taken inside a classroom, court heard.
In her submissions, Wannamaker said the times of some of his chat history suggest some of Cavanagh’s illegal activities happened during school hours.
Further, Wannamaker told the court that Cavanagh inappropriately talked about his students in online chats.
“My school only goes to 14, but there are a few really cute girls there that I’d love to have some fun with,” Cavanagh said in a chat with another Twitter user.
Further, he admitted in a chat that he looked down the shirts and up the skirts of students, but he wished they wore more revealing clothing.
He also told one Twitter user he knew what students to exploit in exchange for better grades.
Wannamaker said Cavanagh told a user those are the “benefits of being a teacher.”
Lastly, the court heard that Cavanagh told a user that he fantasized about students at his school.
Cavanagh returns to court May 3 when his lawyer will argue the mandatory minimum sentence.