Update – PVNCCDSB – Colborne Resident Charged in Online Sexual Exploitation Investigation Works As Custodian at Elementary School in Cobourg

Pete Fisher
1 year ago
• Categories: Local, Police Blotter

A Colborne resident arrested and charged with online child luring investigation works at a local elementary school.

Christopher Thomas COSS, 37-years-old, was arrested in Cobourg and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

Luring a child to facilitate sexual interference, contrary to section 172.1(1)(b)

Luring a child to facilitate sexual assault, contrary to section 172.1(1)(b)

Galen Eagle, who is the Communications Manager at the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board said a message was sent out to St. Michael CES families on Wednesday afternoon, just after OPP issued their release.

Important information for St. Michael CES Families

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The purpose of this communication is to share with you that police have charged a member of our St. Michael CES staff, custodian Christopher Coss, with serious criminal charges.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued a media release this afternoon indicating that Mr. Coss has been arrested and charged with child luring offences.

The charges do not involve students at our school.

We understand that this information will be very concerning for students and parents/guardians. In all things, the safety of our students is foremost in our minds. We take all allegations of staff misconduct very seriously.

The matter is now before the courts. Mr. Coss has been removed from all Board workplaces and prohibited from any interactions with students indefinitely.

The Board will be making available additional mental health and pastoral support should any student require any additional support as a result of this situation.

Please do not hesitate to call me at the school tomorrow if you have any questions.

Eagle also stated to Today’s Northumberland that Coss has been an employee of the board since 2017.

Following his arrest on Tuesday morning, Coss has been removed from all Board workplaces and prohibited from any interactions with students indefinitely.

Coss will remain a Board employee pending the outcome of his criminal charges.

Coss was released from custody following a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg on March 1, 2023.