A BC elementary school teacher arrested for having child sexual abuse material on his computer has been barred from teaching for life.

According to a Sept. 16 BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation decision, Fort. St. John area teacher Devin Roy Gray was arrested in April 2021, two months after police got a search warrant and seized several electronic devices.

One of the devices seized contained over 500 photos and videos of children, believed to be between the ages of three and 13 years old.

“The device belonged to Gray. The profile on the device used Gray’s name and there was no other profile on the device. The device had many files using Gray’s name in the document or folder name, including Gray’s resume, as well as materials related to teaching, and Gray’s emails. This device was identified by another person residing at the residence as Gray’s property and which was only used by Gray,” the decision reads.

The IP address matched where Gray lived and he was the authorized user for the email.

However, Crown prosecutors did not approve charges against the teacher.

Following his arrest, he was put on leave and made an undertaking that he wouldn’t teach until the matter had been resolved.

Four years later, he signed a consent resolution agreement with the regulator and agreed to never apply to become a teacher again.

“Gray allowed his Device and email address to be used to access child pornography. Child pornography directly and indirectly harms children. His conduct undermines the public confidence in the profession,” the regulator said.

Gray also failed to provide fingerprints for a criminal record check while he was suspended.

The decision says Gray became a teacher in 2003 and at the time of his arrest was working for School District 60, Peace River North. The consent agreement with the regulator was signed in Penticton.