Police have confirmed that a man accused of using fake online profiles to dupe people into sex is a metro-area teacher and coach.
Thirty-two-year-old Markus Hicks of Paradise was arrested Wednesday and briefly appeared in provincial court yesterday, sporting large bandages on his neck and left arm.
He faces a single charge of sexual assault against another man, said to have occurred in April or May of this year at his Trail’s End Drive home.
Markus Hicks
But at a news conference yesterday, the RNC said they believe others were lured by the fake accounts purporting to be women offering sex—under the names Isabella Ricci or Corinne Smith. usernames bellaricci4 or smittycor15
RNC Constable James Cadigan said it’s the deception that removes consent and triggers the assault charge. But he declined to elaborate, citing the complex and sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation.
“You know, a lot of times we will hold back information to ensure that when someone comes forward, the information they’re providing us is reliable and not influenced by other details,” he said. Cadigan was referring to the multitude of online rumours and commentary being offered on the case since Hicks was identified and appeared in court.
He remains in custody pending a bail hearing on Tuesday.
Hicks is at least the fourth metro-area teacher to face sex charges in the past year.
The RNC say now is a good time for parents to discuss social media safety with their kids in light of the investigation.
Cadigan says now that a new school year has begun, it’s important to remind young people about safe social media use.
It’s important to speak with young people about personal, private information and the sharing of data and photos. “All this information, once shared, is then in the possession of another person, and these people may be fictitious. If you don’t know them personally, there is significant risk to a person’s safety.”
While the English School District is limited in what it can say because of the ongoing investigation, it has also sent a message to parents asking them to take the time to have an in-depth conversation with children about online activity. School staff will also have conversations with students in the coming days regarding online safety and available support in the school.
