RED DEER, Alta. — A 17-year-old youth facing nine sexual assault charges related to boys and girls in central Alberta has made his first court appearance.
The charges go back as far as 2011 and involve five alleged victims, including some who were on trips with Scouts Canada and Cadets Canada.
The charges reference the Red Deer, Red Deer County, Sylvan Lake and Edmonton areas.
They include sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault, sexual interference and doing an indecent act.
An investigation started in May when one of the victims came forward.
The teen is not in custody and is to be back in court on Aug. 6.
The accused and those said to be involved cannot be identified.
Police have said the suspect is from Red Deer and was involved with the Scouts between 2007 and 2012 and with Cadets Canada between 2011 and 2015.