A 50-year-old man who volunteered as a coach at a Calgary high school has been charged with sexual assault, police announced on Tuesday.
Details of the Investigation
Police reported that on May 12, they received a complaint indicating that a minor had been sexually abused over a period of nearly two years by a volunteer coach at Henry Wisewood High School, located in southwest Calgary.
According to a news release from the Calgary Police Service (CPS), the suspect is believed to have met the victim when she was 15 years old. He allegedly used his position of trust to groom the victim before the assaults began.
The teenager had contact with the man through her school and extracurricular activities.
Arrest and Charges
Police arrested the man on May 13. Drew Alan Robertson, 50, faces one count each of sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and making sexually explicit material available to children. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
Staff Sgt. Chris Tudor of the CPS Child Abuse Unit stated, "Coaches are supposed to be instructors, leaders, and mentors. Sexual exploitation by a person in a position of authority is a betrayal of those values, and offenders must be held accountable."
Support for the Victim
The Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, where the Calgary Police Service’s child abuse unit is located, is providing support to the teen. Luna and other organizations collaborate under one roof to deliver a comprehensive, child-focused, and trauma-informed response to abuse.
Police emphasized that "this integrated approach provides a safe space for children to receive support as they heal."
Staff Sgt. Chris Tudor is scheduled to speak with media about the investigation at 11:30 a.m.
