A Windsor professor and Essex teacher has reportedly been charged with underage prostitution

Days after four people were charged in an underage prostitution investigation, two of the defendants are reportedly employed at the University of Windsor and a high school in Essex.

As CTV News Windsor previously reported on May 9, last month members of the WPS Morality Unit and the OPP Intelligence-Led Joint Forces Strategy Anti Human Trafficking Unit teamed up to conduct an undercover prostitution operation in Windsor.

Officers used a popular website to communicate with suspects who allegedly attempted to offer an underage girl money in exchange for sexual acts.

In online conversations, police said the suspects negotiated a specific price with an undercover agent posing as a 16-year-old girl and then arranged to meet at a location to engage in sexual activity.

When the suspects arrived at the designated meeting point, they were immediately arrested by the police.

As AM800 News reported Sunday, two of the four suspects charged in the investigation are professors at the University of Windsor, while another is a teacher at a high school in Essex.

A statement sent to AM800 News from the University of Windsor on Friday confirmed that 61-year-old Dr. Jianwen Yang is a faculty member and has been placed on leave “as an interim measure.”

“The university understands that this is a criminal matter involving the Windsor Police Services,” the statement said. “The safety and well-being of the university community is of the utmost importance.”

According to AM800 News, Ontario College was also notified of the arrest of 46-year-old James Pernal, a teacher at Essex District High School in Essex.

In a response, the college said it was aware of the allegations but could not comment on the investigation.

An email inquiry was also sent to the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB), but a spokesperson said “the GECDSB cannot comment on the status of any current employee” but will follow its internal processes and procedures cooperate with law enforcement authorities.

As a result of the investigation, the following individuals were each charged with obtaining sexual services from a person under the age of 18: