2 Gagetown soldiers charged with sexual offences

Two Gagetown soldiers have been charged with sexual offences.

Capt. Simon Duvall, of the 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), RCA, based at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown (5 CDSB), faces one count of sexual assault under the Criminal Code of Canada.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service laid the charge on Wednesday in connection with an alleged incident involving another member of the Canadian Armed Forces at the base near Oromocto in December 2010 or January 2011, Lt.-Col. Francis Bolduc, commanding officer of the investigation service said in a statement on Wednesday.

Sgt. Brent Douglas Hansen, who works at range control, was also charged on Wednesday with two counts under the National Defence Act related to allegedly accessing child pornography while on duty at the base between June 26, 2014, and Sept. 22, 2014.

No dates for a court martial in either case have been set, according to officials.

This charge reflects our ongoing commitment to support victims and defend against harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour in the Canadian Armed Force.- Francis Bolduc, investigation service

The offences in both cases carry maximum sentences of 10 years in prison under the National Defence Act.

The case against Duvall, who has 10 years of service and currently works in a staff officer job, was referred to the investigation service on June 20, 2016,  Lt. Blake Patterson told CBC News.

"This charge reflects our ongoing commitment to support victims and defend against harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour in the Canadian Armed Forces," said Bolduc.

"The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service investigates all sexual assaults in a thorough and impartial manner to identify and bring to prosecution those persons responsible for criminal sexual offences," he said.

The case against Hansen, who has 33 years of service, was referred to the investigation service more than two years ago, on Sept. 9, 2014.

The charges against him include one count of accessing child pornography and one count of "conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline."

"These charges reflect our ongoing commitment to identify, investigate and bring to prosecution those persons engaged in harmful, inappropriate and criminal sexual behaviour," said Bolduc.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is a unit within the independent Canadian Forces Military Police Group whose mandate is to investigate serious and sensitive matters in relation to Department of National Defence property, Department of National Defence employees and Canadian Armed Forces personnel serving in Canada and around the world, according to the release.

About 4,500 military members and 1,500 civilian personnel work at the main Gagetown base and lodger units across New Brunswick and P.E.I.

It is the second largest military base in Canada and the largest military facility in Eastern Canada.

There are 740 buildings on the base, a ​1,100 square kilometre training area, 1,500 kilometres of roads and 900 kilometres of tracks.