Jyväskylä man faces charges over multiple child sex offences

A man who worked as a teacher in Jyväskylä faces multiple charges involving alleged sexual offences against children, Yle reports. Police say the allegations are not connected to his teaching work.

The charges include two counts of aggravated rape of a child, three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, nine counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, four counts of coercion into a sexual act, one count of sexual abuse of a child and four counts of sexual assault of a child.

Police say all but one of the alleged offences took place in connection with scouting activities, where the man worked as an instructor. The alleged victims were children involved in the activities and were aged between 7 and 14 at the time. Police also said he had worked as an instructor in Salvation Army activities.

The alleged offences took place between 2020 and 2026, mostly in Jyväskylä from October 2020 to February 2026. There are 15 complainants. The preliminary investigation examined alleged acts that may have involved a total of 20 minors.

The man was remanded in custody in March and has remained detained since. He has partly denied the offences investigated. Police completed the preliminary investigation in early October. The city of Jyväskylä suspended him from his post as a primary school teacher earlier this year.

The case is being heard by the Central Finland District Court.