The Stag Shop on Church St. in Toronto, Ont., Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009. A part-time employee has been charged with sexual assault. (Sun Media/Dave Abel)

TORONTO -- A Toronto elementary school teacher who works at a downtown sex shop is accused of sexually assaulting an underage teen.

It was about 10 p.m. on Wednesday of last week that, police say, a 15-year-old boy went to the Stag Shop on Church St. where he met the 31-year-old part-time employee.

"After a period of time, the boy and the employee went to the employee's home and the man (allegedly) sexually assaulted the boy in the home," Toronto Police Const. Tony Vella said yesterday, a day after Oakridge Junior Public School teacher Shawn Carr was charged with sexual assault and sexual interference.

According to Stag Shop assistant manager Nathaniel Bacon, a boy and a girl arrived at the store just before closing time.

While the store closed, the boy, who said he was 19, waited outside for about 20 minutes and chatted with Carr and another employee, said Bacon, who was working the night of the alleged offence.

"They were saying that they were going to his (Carr's) place. I said, 'Oh my God, how old is he?' He (the other employee) said, 'We just asked and he said he's 19,' " Bacon said.

Bacon and the other employee walked north on Church St., while Carr and the boy walked south toward Carr's apartment.

While the boy looked younger than 19, Bacon said he didn't believe Carr, who is well-liked in the community, would go home with someone he thought was 15.

"Shawn tends to date and hang around with people his own age. He would have nothing against someone who was 18 if they were legal, but I don't think he would do that," Bacon said.

"I was given the very strong impression that the boy lied about his age."

Students at the Yonge St. and Finch Ave.-area school where Carr works as a supply teacher were sent home with letters yesterday detailing the charges, Toronto District School Board spokesman Anna Caputo said.

Carr was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation, she added.

Last year, the legal age for sexual consent was raised from 14 to 16.

"Having consensual intercourse is not a criminal offence but having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old is a criminal offence," Det.-Const. Natalie Hegarty said.

TAMARA.CHERRY@SUNMEDIA.CA