Ottawa educational assistant facing sexual assault charges

A police vehicle sits outside the Ottawa Police headquarters on Elgin St. in this undated photo. (CTV News Ottawa)

A 32-year-old man who worked as an educational assistant with Ottawa's largest school board is facing sexual assault charges, according to Ottawa police.

Police launched an investigation into allegations of sexual assault in November.

Police say the alleged incidents involving three males under the age of 14 started in September 2022, when the accused was an educational assistant with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.

Kevan Henshaw, 32, of Ottawa is charged with three counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual interference with a person under 16 years of age and one count of telecommunication under a person under 16 years of age (luring).

Police say investigators believe there could be other victims and other incidents, "that have occurred while he was employed by the OCDSB as well as with his other employment working with youth in Ottawa and Nova Scotia."

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board says it has been "fully" cooperating with the police service since the investigation began.

"The employee was prevented from working in schools when we became aware of a complaint in relation to his interaction with students and has not returned," the OCDSB said in a statement. "In addition to legal proceedings, the OCDSB has undertaken an internal investigation to determine further action from an employment perspective."

The OCDSB is asking anyone with information to contact police.

"These charges are serious and troubling."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944.