Content warning: This story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some.

A former teacher in Alberta has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexually abusing a student.

The sentence was handed down Friday in a packed courtroom in Stony Plain.

Catherine Valiquette pleaded guilty to sexual interference last December.

According to the agreed facts, Valiquette was a 9th Grade teacher at Graminia School in Parkland County when she had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old student in April 2023.

Valiquette added the student, who was in his science class, to the social media app Snapchat, and the two began chatting for hours every day.

Court documents found the conversations became increasingly sexual in nature, ultimately leading to a physical relationship outside of school.

The victim’s brother eventually became aware of the relationship and notified his parents, who confiscated his phone.

According to the agreed facts, the boy and Valiquette, who was 29 at the time, began talking in a Google document and developed codes, including the use of “143” meaning “I love.” You.”

As the relationship progressed, the boy would meet Valiquette by riding his bike; Valiquette was driving them to a rural area; where the two engaged in sexual activities, including intercourse as the presiding judge.

Condoms were not always used, and the couple frequently used baby wipes for cleaning and destroyed them at the scene, according to the documents.

Many of those wipes were seized by police from the scene, according to court documents.

Valiquette and the victim stopped communicating in June 2023, and the boy told his family about the relationship later that month.

His family reported the abuse to the RCMP and the school.

During the investigation, police found a sweater belonging to the victim in Valiquette’s possession.

He initially told police he bonded with the boy but did not engage in sexual activity with him.

penalty decision

At Friday’s sentencing hearing, the mother of four personally addressed the court and apologized for her actions.

“What I did goes against everything I stand for,” he told the court, adding that in his teaching career he always tried to provide a safe and supportive space for students.

“I take responsibility for my actions and again, I am deeply sorry.”

He has not worked as a teacher since he was charged in August 2023.

The defense sought a conditional sentence of two years minus one day followed by supervised release, while the Crown argued for a five-year sentence.

Judge Kimberly Palichuk found that less than two years was not an appropriate sentence, but took into account Valiquette’s early guilty plea as well as the remorse he displayed.

In addition to a four-year prison sentence, Valiquette is also subject to a DNA order and a weapons ban.