4 new complainants step forward as 13 more charges laid against Paradise teacher

Police said Friday they have charged Markus Hicks, 32, with 13 further charges as part of a widening investigation into luring youth over social media. 

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said four new people have come forward with information that led to most of the new charges.

One of the 13 charges is connected to a complainant who had already come forward, say police.. 

Before the new charges, six complainants had filed information that had led to charges. 

Hicks, a Paradise, N.L., teacher and volleyball coach, remains in custody. 

One of the new charges is breach of trust by a public officer. 

WATCH | RNC Const. James Cadigan on why social media messages and photos don't ever disappear: 

Police to parents: Tell your kids that messages and photos don’t disappear

1 year ago

Duration 1:25

As the number of charges against former teacher and volleyball coach Markus Hicks continues to grow, RNC Const. James Cadigan says online interactions can be anything but fleeting. That is especially so when people can take screenshots of intimate messages and photos. Police allege Hicks used fake social media profiles to lure people into sexual encounters.

Police first charged Hicks earlier this month, accusing him of using fake names on unspecified social media accounts to lure people into sexual acts.  

The new charges include luring a child, three counts of sexual assault, four counts of disguise with intent, and both possession and accessing child pornography. 

He is also charged making sexually explicit material available to a child, and with agreement or arrangement to commit a sexual offence. 

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