A woman who worked as a family programmer at a Flin Flon school has been charged with sexually assaulting a male student.

Kristina Richelle Lies, 36, is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy, after a complaint was filed with Flin Flon Mounties on Aug. 26. RCMP arrested the woman and charged her with sexual assault, sexual interference, and sexual exploitation on Tuesday.

“She is not a teacher but she is an employee at a school and had access to kids,” said RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish. “These are serious allegations.”

The allegations started last winter and someone who heard about it had alerted the RCMP, who then investigated, she added.

“It’s a small town where a lot of people know each other and hear things,” Karpish said.

Lies has been released on stringent conditions, which includes no contact with anyone under 16 years of age, RCMP said. She apparently worked as a family programmer at the Ruth Betts Community School, which has students from kindergarten to Grade 8.

Lies has been placed on leave, said Flin Flon School Division superintendent Blaine Veitch, who admitted shock at the arrest.

“We like our schools to be safe for everyone — students and employees,” he said. “We’re dealing with it and starting our own investigation.”

Lies is scheduled to appear in a Flin Flon courtroom on Nov. 7.

jim.bender@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @bendersun