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Former Peninsula teacher faces more child-porn charges

A former Semiahmoo Peninsula teacher who pleaded guilty in 2005 to collecting images of exploited children is back before the courts.
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A White Rock man is facing charges in connection with the seizure last June of 'child-pornography material.'

A former Semiahmoo Peninsula teacher who pleaded guilty in 2005 to collecting images of exploited children is back before the courts on charges of possessing and accessing child pornography.

Staff Sgt. Bev Csikos confirmed Tuesday that officers with the Integrated Child Exploitation team executed a search warrant at a White Rock residence last June, following a tip “suggesting (the accused) was in possession of child pornography material.”

During the June 27 search, “child pornography material was found,” Csikos said, noting that the tip, received in April 2012, came from another agency, and that a police investigation in another jurisdiction is ongoing.

She would not disclose further details, citing the court process.

George Heinz Kraus, 67, is due back in Surrey Provincial Court on Feb. 22.

Kraus taught at White Rock Elementary for 13 years and was in his second year at Laronde Elementary when he resigned in March 2005, shortly after his arrest that month for possession of child pornography, when police found an estimated 27,000 images on two home computers.

Kraus told Peace Arch News at that time that he didn’t believe he was doing wrong by possessing the pictures, because the depicted children were not local.

“It’s not hurting anyone...they’re all overseas,” Kraus had said.

He pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography that summer and, in December 2005, was handed a 14-month conditional sentence. He was also added to the national sex offender registry – a move his lawyer at the time had argued was unfair, citing in part psychological testing that showed Kraus was a low risk to re-offend.

Calls to Kraus and his lawyer this week were not returned.

 



Tracy Holmes

About the Author: Tracy Holmes

Tracy Holmes has been a reporter with Peace Arch News since 1997.
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