Ottawa man involved with Scouts Canada charged with sex offences, police say
OTTAWA -
Ottawa police say a 67-year-old former Scouts leader is facing charges in connection to historical sexual assaults on children.
Police announced Wednesday that John Rietveld is charged with buggery, indecent assault on a male, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference with a person under 16 and two counts of invitation to sexual touching with person under 16.
Police say the charges follow an investigation into historical sexual assaults that occurred between July 1, 1978 and March 2006.
In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Scouts Canada says Rietveld volunteered with the organization from 1967 to 1975, and was employed by Scouts Canada from 1975 to 2011.
"In July 2018, Scouts Canada was advised by police that Mr. Rietveld was under investigation," said Scouts Canada.
"We cooperated fully with the Ottawa Police Service and will continue to support their investigation in any way we can. While we have become aware that an incident took place at a Scouting event, the police have shared very few details with us."
Police say investigators believe there could be other victims, boys or girls, as offences were alleged to have occurred in Ottawa, the Niagara Region, Mississauga and Perth.
"It is alleged that one of the victims was assaulted while at a Jamboree,” police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 5944.
Correction
Ottawa Police say the charges follow an investigation into historical sexual assaults that occurred between July 1, 1978 and March 2006, not 1968 as previously reported.
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