Red Deer teen guilty of sexual assaults at Scout and cadet camps
CBC News | Posted: January 21, 2016 7:00 PM | Last Updated: January 21, 2016
Court heard assaults happened between 2011 and 2015, sometimes during outings with scouts and cadets
A Red Deer teenager has been found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and one of sexual interference over assaults of other teenagers involved with Scouts Canada and Cadets Canada.
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The accused — who was 17 at the time of his arrest and cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act — was involved with Scouts Canada between 2007 and 2012. Police say he was also with Cadets Canada between 2011 and 2015.
Judge Darrell Reimer concluded that evidence from two of five victims was unreliable because they seemed to have trouble recalling the incidents during trial, but Crown prosecutor Dane Rolfe said he's happy with the outcome.
"I understand the judge had some doubts about a couple of the complainants and their reliability with their memory," Rolfe said. "I'm happy with the four counts that he did find guilty."
Counselling may be an option
At least one of the victims was in court today, and Rolfe spoke with her on reaction to the judgment.
"She was happy she was believed by the judge," he said.
"She's happy to hear that counselling may be an option for the judge to give [the accused], to deal with whatever he's dealing with."
Sentencing is set for late May.