Former Calgary teacher Fred Archer, 82, on trial for 1990s sexual abuse of former student Fred Archer, 82, is on trial in Calgary for three sexual offences involving a former student in the 1990s. Prosecutors say he abused the boy over 15 months, while Archer denies the allegations. A former Calgary teacher and sexual abuse convict appeared in court Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, as his trial opened on charges involving a former student. Fred Archer, 82, faces three sexual offences, and the Crown told Justice Brandy Shaw it expects a guilty finding. The allegations date back to 1994 and 1995, when Archer taught at John Ware School. The complainant, identified in court as JR under a publication ban protecting his identity, was 13 and 14 years old at the time. The prosecution says Archer sexually abused JR over a 15-month period.Prosecutor Gianna Argento said Archer befriended JR's father in 1994. The father worked out of town for weeks at a time and bestowed a guardian-like role on Archer.As a result, JR lived with his teacher while his father was away, which Argento described as 'a very close relationship.' Archer has denied sexually touching JR. The court watched his videotaped police interview from Jan. 21, 2025, in which he called himself 'a pawn in the CBE $100-million civil suit' and denied the allegations. He also said the boy had 'severe abandonment issues' after his mother left him alone with his father. Archer confirmed that JR lived with him when the father was out of town and said he took the child to psychologists.He asked the officer: 'Why would I take to two psychologists if I was sexually abusing him?' During the hours-long interview, Archer admitted that JR spontaneously masturbated in front of him while the two were driving. Archer said they talked about masturbation as a 'normal father/son thing' during discussions about puberty. Defence lawyer Tim Dunlap told the court that the allegations against his client were 'for profit,' referring to a lawsuit. He said Archer denies all allegations.Archer previously served a three-year prison term after pleading guilty in 2009 to three sexual abuse-related offences involving 12-year-old students in the 1990s at Springbank Middle School. He also has two other trials scheduled for October and January involving three complainants from his time as a guidance counsellor at Springbank Middle School in the 1980s. Archer was also named in a $15-million lawsuit against the Calgary Board of Education that was settled earlier this year.The class action, originally filed for $100 million, accused Archer and another teacher, Michael Gregory, of abusing students at John Ware School. Gregory was charged with 17 counts of sexual assault and sexual exploitation in 2021 but died by suicide days later. The class action was filed months after Gregory's death and was amended in 2024 to include Archer.In the wake of publicity related to the lawsuit, several former students came forward to police accusing Archer of sexually abusing them decades earlier.