CALGARY -- A former Calgary music teacher accused in May of using a false identity on social media to meet young girls faces dozens of sexual abuse charges after an additional 19 complainants came forward.
Christian Allen Sarile faces 49 charges involving 22 girls. Police believe the offences happened between 2009 and earlier this month.
"The numbers are alarming and it's been a pattern of behaviour," Calgary Police Staff Sgt. Melanie Oncescu said Thursday.
"It's certainly the largest in terms of charges laid that I've been involved with and in reflecting back I can't think of another circumstance where we've laid this many charges against one individual...this many victims."
Sarile, 27, is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, extortion, invitation to sexual touching, communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services, making sexually explicit material available to a child and luring a child under the age of 16.
"He wasn't engaging as a teacher. It is believed that the man would use social media sites posing as a young teen male and asking to meet young girls. He would ask them to chat through various social media platforms and would offer cash or items in exchange for sexual favours," Oncescu said.
"He would try to befriend people on social media sites so he would have a friend and then he would try to engage their friends."
Police say numerous social media sites were used, including Askfm, Snapchat and Instagram, with the user names: josh.c234, bmyles, bmyles23, Brandon, mike.reele, avgjoe2 and a-rod.
The allegations include instances of victims sending photos of themselves either clothed, partially clothed or naked.
Oncescu said the suspect was also charged earlier this month after being found in the company of a girl, which was a violation of his bail conditions.
The victims ranged in age from 12 to 17 and were all in the Calgary area.
Oncescu said it is possible that more potential victims will come forward.
Sarile is in police custody. He is to appear in court Dec. 22.
