Former teacher at Eagle Butte pleads guilty to sexual exploitation

Court heard how McCubbin and the victim started connecting through “google meet” as some school work was being done remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The student began confiding in McCubbin about her struggles with the significant loss of a loved one who had passed away a few years earlier. The student felt she could not confide in other family members and thought McCubbin was a good listener.

Over the course of several weeks, McCubbin and the student began having daily personal conversations through google meet, phone, and Facebook messenger that would last for hours. The student visited McCubbin at her home. The former teacher also picked up the teen from her extra-curricular activity and brought her back to her place.

On March 8, 2021, the student received what she characterized as a love letter from McCubbin. It stated the former teacher felt their relationship could be different if the teen was an adult. McCubbin disputes the characterization.

After their last interaction, the student began struggling with mental health challenges for various reasons according to court documents. Worried her father would find out about their relationship, the student called McCubbin and asked her to delete any messages between the two on Facebook. McCubbin complied with the request.

Concerned about the unusual relationship between his daughter and McCubbin, the father contacted the school but the teen denied to school staff and others that their relationship was unusual.

Eventually the teen began a new relationship with a male student. In the fall of 2021, the student struggled seeing McCubbin regularly and ended up confiding in a trusted adult what had happened.

The adult filed a report with the Medicine Hat Police in December of 2021. The case was turned over to Redcliff RCMP, who arrested and charged McCubbin three days later.

The Prairie Rose School Division released a statement on Monday afternoon confirming McCubbin is no longer employed. “We recognize public discussion and reporting about this case may bring back feelings of shock, distress and sadness within our school community.

Our thoughts remain with the victim, their family and all affected school community members. Prairie Rose Public Schools remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all those impacted through transparency, prioritizing student safety and providing support as needed.

We encourage parents to check in with students who may struggle with this recent news and seek assistance if required. Counselling services remain available through our Family School Liaison team at Eagle Butte High School and the Sanare Centre.”

The full statement from Prairie Rose can be found here:

The case returns to court on November 10 to set a date for sentencing.

If you or someone you know is impacted by a crime sexual in nature, call 1-866-403-8000 to access crisis or other support services.

There is also the Kids Helpine which is available 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.

by Regan Tate

Former teacher at Eagle Butte pleads guilty to sexual exploitation

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