High school teacher charged with sexual assault

In January of 2023, Niagara Regional Police officers responded to Governor Simcoe Secondary School in St. Catharines regarding an alleged sexual assault involving a teacher.

As information received by the District School Board of Niagara indicated a student at the school was inappropriately touched by a teacher, detectives assigned to the sexual assault unit immediately began an investigation which involved the full cooperation from the school board.  The teacher has been suspended by the board from the onset of the allegation, pending the results of the criminal investigation.

David Michael Cockburn, 46, of St. Catharines was arrested on April 13, and is charged with the following criminal code offences:

• Sexual Assault (1 count)
• Sexual Exploitation (1 count)

All charges relate to the involvement of one victim.  Information received throughout the course of the investigation has led detectives to suspect there may be additional victims.

Cockburn is being held for a bail hearing scheduled to take place April 14 via video link to the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the lead investigator by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009504.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.  

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