Police have charged a man for allegedly showing pornography to a five-year-old girl during a piano lesson.
The girl’s mother contacted police on March 2 after her daughter told her that the piano teacher had shown her explicit videos during a private lesson in the family’s northwest Calgary home, police said in a news release Tuesday.
Police said they believe the alleged incident occurred in February.
WATCH: Calgary Police Staff Sgt. Melanie Oncescu issues a statement after a Calgary school teacher was charged for allegedly showing porn to a five-year-old student.
Police have charged Darrin Colby Hogue with one count of making sexually explicit material available to children, and one count of possession of obscene material for the purpose of publication.
According to an advertisement on Kijiji, Hogue offered “professional, affordable piano lessons” at a music studio in the northwest.
“I am a full member in good standing with the Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association specializing in elementary music education, completing my studies at the University of Calgary with a duel degree in music and education,” the ad reads.
The ad goes on to say Hogue specializes in working with children from the ages of four to 12, but has taught students of all ages and skill sets, “through adolescence to adulthood.”
WATCH: Calgary Police Staff Sgt. Melanie Oncescu says it’s important for families to have open discussions about personal boundaries.
Hogue is a former teacher at Harmony Music School (HMS) in Calgary, which said in a statement on Tuesday it was “deeply disturbed” by the allegations.
“This teacher no longer works for HMS. However, HMS will do everything possible to cooperate with Calgary Police Service in their investigation,” spokesperson Jacklyn Chan said.
“Harmony Music School is diligent in ensuring that all teachers have valid and current police checks. In addition, all individual lessons at HMS are at our music studios as we do not offer ‘in-home lessons.’”
The statement went on to say the studios at the school have windowed rooms to allow for transparency and added security and that parents are welcome to sit in on the lessons.
Hogue is scheduled to appear in court on April 12.
For information on recognizing signs of child abuse, people are encouraged to visit the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre website.
Anyone who is a victim of a crime or believes they know someone who has been a victim is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or to contact Crime Stoppers.
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