St. John’s teacher charged with sexual exploitation likely to face jail time if convicted

The Crown has elected to proceed by indictment in the case of a St. John’s teacher charged with having sexual contact with a student, meaning the teacher is facing certain jail time if convicted.

High school teacher Krysta Grimes, 32, did not appear personally when her case was called in provincial court Friday morning, but was represented by her lawyer, Ian Patey.

Prosecutor Jacqueline MacMillan told the court she had reviewed the police disclosure in the case and was electing to proceed with the case by indictment. Patey asked for time to discuss that election with MacMillan and to further review the disclosure himself.

Criminal offences in Canada are designated in three categories. Summary offences are considered the least serious and attract lower sentences on conviction, generally of under two years in prison. Indictable offences, which are considered more serious, sometimes carry specific minimum or maximum jail sentences on conviction, which can include life imprisonment. In the case of hybrid offences, the Crown can choose to proceed summarily or by indictment, based on the specific circumstances of a particular case.