The trial of a former Shawnigan Lake teacher facing six charges relating to sexual offences against a minor began Thursday in Duncan.
Andrew Michael Olson is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation, a charge applied to a person in a position of trust or authority accused of sexually touching a minor. Olson, who is in his mid-30s, is also charged with child-luring and assault causing bodily harm.
The offences are alleged to have occurred between Dec. 1, 2014, and March 6, 2015, against one victim.
At the time Olson was charged, staff at Shawnigan Lake School provided a statement to the media.
“We became aware of a situation which required one of our faculty members to be placed on leave. That individual is now no longer employed by the school,” the statement said.
“This is obviously an upsetting situation for our school community. In the interest of the privacy of all concerned, we will not be making any further comment at this time.”
According to a biography on the Independent Schools Association of B.C.’s website, Olson was senior history teacher at Shawnigan Lake School and the chairman of the technology committee.
Olson and his wife lived on campus, where he was responsible for 57 teenage boys in residence.
