Niagara police have charged a 42-year-old St. Catharines man after two people reported that they were sexually assaulted by a former volunteer cheerleading coach on several occasions between 2009 and 2012.
The Hamilton Niagara Regional Police Service said the accused volunteered with high schools in St. Catharines within the District School Board of Niagara before later opening a private cheerleading gym. Police did not identify the man in the information provided, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
Police say investigation remains active
According to the police release, investigators with the service’s Sexual Assault Unit began pursuing the allegations after receiving reports from two separate victims. The reported incidents are alleged to have taken place during the period when the accused was involved as a cheerleading coach.
NRPS said detectives believe there could be more victims. That appeal places the case beyond the two reports already identified by police and signals that investigators are trying to determine whether other people have information about the coach, the alleged incidents or his activities in the Niagara region.
- Two separate victims reported alleged sexual assaults.
- The alleged incidents are said to have occurred between 2009 and 2012.
- Police said the accused volunteered with St. Catharines-area high schools before opening his own cheerleading gym.
- Investigators believe additional victims may exist.
Charges and court process
The accused faces one count of sexual assault, one count of sexual interference and four counts of sexual exploitation. The charges are allegations only. Under Canadian law, the accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
| Detail | Information released by police |
|---|---|
| Age of accused | 42 |
| Reported period | 2009 to 2012 |
| People reporting allegations | Two separate victims |
| Charges | Sexual assault, sexual interference and four counts of sexual exploitation |
Police said the accused was scheduled to appear for a bail hearing at a St. Catharines courthouse on Oct. 27. The release supplied for this report did not include information about the result of that hearing or any conditions that may have been imposed.
Appeal for information
NRPS is asking anyone with information to contact its Sexual Assault Unit. The service said people can provide anonymous tips by calling 289-248-1058. The appeal is directed at anyone who may have been involved in the cheerleading programs, attended training or competitions, or otherwise had information connected to the accused during the period under investigation.
The allegations involve a setting in which a coach held a position of trust around young athletes and students. Police have not released further details about the circumstances of the reported assaults, the schools involved or the gym that was later opened. Those details may emerge as the investigation proceeds and as the court process develops.
For now, the investigation remains active and police are asking potential witnesses or victims to come forward through the Sexual Assault Unit. Anyone with immediate concerns about safety should contact police directly rather than relying on online discussion or public speculation.
