Seattle teacher arrested in Vernon for voyeurism

GIRLS FOUND A CAMERA HIDDEN IN THEIR ROOM

VERNON – A substitute teacher and ski coach from a private school in the U.S. is in the custody of Vernon RCMP after an alleged incident of voyeurism during a class field trip to Silver Star Mountain Resort.

Jason Christopher Paur, 43, was arrested Dec. 10 after a group of female students from Seattle’s The Bush School discovered his video camera in their room. The students went to their chaperones, who immediately contacted police, states a release from the school. The trip was cut short, and the students promptly returned home.

According to court documents, Paur has been charged with three counts of secretly observing or recording nudity in a private place, one count of accessing child pornography, one of possessing child pornography, and three counts of breaking and entering a dwelling with intent to commit an offence.

Police spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the man is in custody and expected to appear in court Dec. 18 for a bail hearing. He wouldn’t comment further because the matter is currently before the courts. Crown spokesperson Neil MacKenzie’s hands are also tied.

“The Crown doesn’t make a practice of discussing or disclosing information that might form part of a case against an individual,” MacKenzie said Friday.  “We also can’t release any information that might identify the complainants.”

As in all other cases, Paur will be prosecuted in British Columbia where the offence was committed, despite his American citizenship. 

Paur, who substituted and taught cross-country skiing and running at The Bush School, has been placed on administrative leave. The school states it was not aware of any other incidents of inappropriate behaviour.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.

This story was updated at 12 p.m. Dec. 13 to add information from Neil MacKenzie and The Bush School.