Trial for Sask. educational assistant facing sexual exploitation charges underway

The trial of a former educational assistant facing sexual exploitation charges involving a student, kicked off in Regina on Tuesday.

Stacey Duke is accused of luring a student by communicating online to sexually manipulate them during her time working at Vibank Regional School – located east of Regina in the Rural Municipality of Francis.

The complainant, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban imposed by the court, testified Tuesday morning. At the time of the alleged offence, the alleged victim was 17-years-old.

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They stated that Duke allegedly added them on the social media platform Snapchat and would send messages about “sexual fantasies” along with naked photos of herself.

The alleged offence went on for several weeks until Indian Head RCMP received a report of inappropriate online communication between an adult and student in the fall of 2022.

After RCMP investigated the matter, Duke was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of a young person, making sexually explicit material available to a child and luring a child.

The officer who dealt with the matter was one of the five witnesses called to testify in the trial.

Aside from the officer and complainant, three other witnesses are expected to take the stand – including a second student who was identified as another victim by RCMP.

The trial will resume Wednesday morning at Court of King’s Bench in Regina - where cross examination of the third witness will continue.