More child porn charges laid against Milton teacher

Halton Regional Police Service’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit (I.C.E.) has laid 28 additional child pornography charges on a former Catholic elementary school teacher who has already been in custody since Jan. 5.

Justin Zielke, 44, who was a teacher at St. Anthony of Padua School in Milton, Ont., from 2016-23, faces charges of voyeurism (four counts), accessing child pornography (five counts), luring (nine counts), making child pornography (four counts), extortion (two counts), invitation to sexual touching, sexual interference, sexual assault and obtaining sexual services from a minor.

A release from Halton police said “the accused commonly used the online platform Omegle to target his victims.” He “often used the following handles online: Dan Forest, D_lband202, Noah, Martin Rivalo.”

Police allege “the accused had been luring children online from locations across the world. The accused recorded children performing sexual acts and would often pay them for doing so (often using Roblox gift cards as the currency).”

The accused is also allegedl to have in February 2022 “met with a 14-year-old female in Brampton and sexually assaulted her.”

Before joining St. Anthony of Padua, Zielke taught at St. Vincent Catholic Elementary School in Oakville from 2014 to 2016 and St. Matthew Catholic Elementary School in Oakville in 2013.

In January, The Catholic Register reached out to the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) to get its response to Zielke’s original arrest.

“News of this nature is very upsetting for all of us,” said HCDSB communications officer Amanda Bartucci. “The safety and well-being of the students entrusted to our care is our greatest responsibility, and one that we do not take lightly”

In the immediate aftermath of the arrest, the Compassionate Care and Crisis Response teams visited the school to offer support to students and staff who may be struggling with the revelations.

The I.C.E. investigators affirmed again that “there may be additional victims.” They urge anyone with information about Zielke to contact Detective Todd Martin at (905) 465-8983 or Detective Constable Dave Cziraki at (905) 465-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.