By Jeff Mitchell
DURHAM -- An Ajax elementary school teacher accused of attempting to lure a teenaged girl for sex remains in custody after being denied bail.
Raymond Hubbard, 52, appeared by video link for the lengthy bail hearing in Oshawa Thursday, Jan. 7, standing against a cinder block wall in a police station with his shoulders slumped and his head hanging. He wept and wiped his eyes as a prosecutor read into the record allegations against him.
A publication ban covers evidence presented at the hearing and justice of the peace Carol Allison’s reasons for denying Mr. Hubbard’s bid for release pending trial. Mr. Hubbard is scheduled to appear in an Oshawa court by video Jan. 11.
Mr. Hubbard, of Barrett Crescent, was arrested on Wednesday at Terry Fox Public School, where he teaches Grade 1. The arrest took place around 5 p.m., after students had left for the day, said Durham police Sergeant Bill Calder.
It’s alleged Mr. Hubbard engaged in online conversations with an undercover Durham police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl; those conversations led to a suspect making arrangements to meet for a sexual encounter, police said.
A tip led local police to launch an investigation, Sgt. Calder said.
“The first information came to us in November and the investigation was most active toward the middle part of December,” he said.
Mr. Hubbard faces three charges including luring a child to facilitate sexual interference. He has been a teacher at Terry Fox from 2013 to the present, and taught at Lincoln Alexander P.S. in Ajax from 2003 to 2013.
Durham District School Board spokeswoman Andrea Pidwerbecki confirmed Mr. Hubbard has been suspended as he awaits trial.
“Immediately upon hearing from Durham Regional Police, the Durham District School Board took steps to suspend the person in question,” she said.
“We will be sending a letter home to families at the school (Thursday) to let them know about this, and to let them know where they can find more information and how they can share any information they wish with police,” Ms. Pidwerbecki said.
An investigation continues. Call police at 905-579-1520, extension 5363 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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