Court puts off P.E.I. substitute teacher’s case on sex charges until Sept. 23

A 39-year-old man from Cornwall, P.E.I., will be back in court on Sept. 23 to elect whether he wants his case handled in provincial court, by a Supreme Court judge, or by a judge and jury at the Supreme Court level.  

Matthew Alan Craswell faces a number of charges: 

• sexual exploitation
• sexual assault
• sexual interference
• possession of child pornography
• distribution of child pornography

Craswell was not in court during a scheduled appearance on Monday; his lawyer appeared on his behalf.

The accused was initially arrested Aug. 8 on the child pornography charges, but was released from custody after appearing in court.

A few days later, acting on new information about an incident in April 2024, while Craswell was working as a substitute teacher, police arrested him again and the other charges were laid. 

The P.E.I. Public Schools Branch has told CBC News that Craswell will not be considered for future employment while the investigation and court proceedings are underway. 

“This individual was a certified substitute teacher who worked occasionally when called upon to fill in for other teachers,” a spokesperson for the board said in an Aug. 13 email. “As a certified substitute teacher, he was eligible to teach all grade levels.”

He would have been required to pass a vulnerable sector check every two years, the agency said. 

“PSB staff have been in contact with RCMP and will assist with their investigation as appropriate,” the statement said.