The case of a former Fort Frances educator charged with child luring will go to trial in Fort Frances Court over two days next February following a judicial pre-trial conference in August.
Former Robert Moore Elementary School principal Shane Beckett’s case was called before the Justice of the Peace’s Case Management Court on Thursday morning. Beckett’s lawyer, Sebastian G. Joseph of Petrone and Partners of Thunder Bay, appeared today on his behalf, confirming that the two-day trial has been scheduled for Feb. 25-25, 2027, which will be just over a year after Beckett’s arrest date.
By virtue of a trial date being set, it is assumed that Beckett has pleaded not guilty.
The Times reached out to Beckett’s representation, but Joseph was unavailable at the time of publication.
Beckett, 53, a former school sports coach and prominent local citizen, was arrested on Feb. 17 at his home, where police executed a warrant and electronic devices were seized. He was charged the next day with two counts of child luring.
Beckett is alleged to have communicated online with a person whom he believed was under 16 for the purposes of facilitating the commission of a sexual offence between Feb. 9 and 13, 2026.
None of the allegations have been proven in court, and a court-ordered publication ban has been imposed that prohibits the release of any information that could identify any alleged victims in the case.
The law applies when the accused is trying to persuade, invite, or encourage a person under 18 (or someone they believe is under 18) into illegal sexual activity. Courts look at the content and direction of the communication to determine intent, and the offence is complete even if the “child” is actually an undercover officer or other person.
Penalties include mandatory jail time, sex offender registration and restrictions on future contact with minors or internet use.
Community members have said that videos circulating privately on social media and messaging apps are linked to the ongoing case.
The Times has reviewed the claims but cannot verify the authenticity, origin or connection of the videos to the accused. None of the material has been confirmed by police, and no law enforcement agency has issued any statement acknowledging the existence of such videos.
The publication ban covers any evidence or information that could identify any witnesses or victims. As a result, details of the investigation and any seized digital material cannot legally be disclosed.
Police have not commented on the circulating videos or their relevance, if any, to the case. Officials have previously urged the public to avoid sharing unverified or potentially harmful content online.
The Times will continue to monitor developments and will provide updates as legally permissible.
