Scouts Canada volunteer, lifeguard accused of sex assault
Scott Stanley, 30, of Ottawa was also a swim coach at Goulbourn Recreation Complex
Ottawa police have charged a current City of Ottawa lifeguard, who is also a former Scouts Canada volunteer and former swim coach, with several sex offences in relation to three boys under 16 years old.
Police have charged Scott Stanley, 30, of Ottawa after arresting him Thursday.
They said the incidents happened in 2012 and 2013 involving three boys while Stanley was a volunteer with Scouts Canada.
Scouts Canada said it suspended Stanley for not adhering to all of Scouts Canada’s child and youth safety policies and procedures on May 12, 2013.
The organization said it shared all of the information it had on the situation afterward with Ottawa police.
No information has been released to connect any of the charges to Stanley's work as a lifeguard and aquatics supervisor at the Goulbourn Recreation Complex pool.
There is also no connection to his work as a swim coach with the Goulbourn Sea Hawks, which is also based at that west Ottawa pool. Stanley's contract as coach was not renewed this year, a spokesperson told CBC News.
Stanley faces 18 charges in total:
- 6 counts of sexual assault.
- 6 counts of sexual interference with a person under 16.
- 3 counts of invitation to sexual touching for person under 16.
- 1 count of telecommunication with a person under 14 for a specific criminal offence.
- 2 counts of telecommunication with a person under 16 for a specific criminal offence.
Held in custody until bail hearing
He appeared in court Friday morning and he will be held in custody over the weekend, appearing for a full-day bail hearing at 9:30 a.m. Monday.
The CBC's Ryan Gibson, who was in court for the appearance, described Stanley as standing six feet tall with a husky build. He also had short brown hair and wore glasses and a graphic green t-shirt that read, "I'm not a hippie, I just hike a lot."
He also required an inhaler for asthma.
Stanley is not allowed to contact anyone under 18 years old, including victims and witnesses in the case.
Suspended without pay
Anyone with information on further incidents is asked to call Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477.
The City of Ottawa refused to comment on the charges because the case remains under a police investigation. They did say Stanley has been suspended without pay and city officials are cooperating with the investigation.
Staff at the Goulbourn pool did confirm they knew of the charges, but they also refused to comment.
Scouts Canada said in a statement that leaders "are required to complete rigorous training and police screening procedures before they are allowed to work with youth."
It also said that "prior to May 2013 Stanley had met all of these requirements …"
Stanley does not have any prior criminal charges on his record, which is expected since he had to pass a record check with Scouts Canada and the City of Ottawa.
Scouts Canada has faced its fair share of criticism in regards to sexual abuse allegations. That was the focus of an investigation by the CBC's Fifth Estate in 2011.