NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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In May of 2022, Niagara Regional Police Service officers assigned to 1 District (St. Catharines / Thorold) responded to St. Catharines Collegiate Secondary School located at 34 Catherine St., in the City of St. Catharines regarding an alleged sexual assault involving a teacher.
As information received by the District School Board of Niagara indicated a student at the school was sexually involved with a teacher, detectives assigned to the Sexual Assault Unit immediately assumed carriage of the investigation. The teacher was suspended by the District School Board of Niagara pending the results of the investigation.
In August of 2022, detectives formulated reasonable and probable grounds and sought to locate the teacher to effect his arrest. Information was received that the teacher left the Province of Ontario, prompting an application before a superior court Judge for the issuance of a Canada-wide arrest warrant.
On Oct. 18, 2022, the Niagara Regional Police Service was notified that the teacher was located in the Province of Alberta and in the custody of the Calgary Police Service. Detectives have since flown to Alberta, taken custody of the teacher, and returned him to the Niagara Regional Police Service Headquarters, located at 5700 Valley Way in the City of Niagara Falls where is remains in custody pending a bail hearing.
Lorne John Gocking (53 years) is charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
• Sexual assault – (four counts)
• Sexual exploitation of a young person – (four counts)
All charges relate to the involvement of one victim. Detectives can confirm there has been no information thus far in the investigation that indicates there may be additional victims.
The bail hearing for Gocking is scheduled to take place on Oct. 21, 2022, via video link to the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse located at 59 Church St. in the City of St. Catharines.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the lead investigator by dialing 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009167.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.
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