CALGARY – Police have laid charges against a former City of Calgary bus driver accused of assaulting a young girl several years ago.
The suspect, who was 53 at the time, is accused of befriending a 14-year-old girl who was a regular on his route, before assaulting her in September of 2007 while she was alone on his bus.
The teenage girl encountered the accused again in March of 2008 while taking a different bus route.
It’s alleged inappropriate sexual contact began again at that point, and continued until June of 2008 when the girl was sexually assaulted in the driver’s home.
Police allege the victim was ‘groomed’ by her attacker.
“In a typical grooming situation… the person that’s grooming will form a relationship with an individual, they’ll maybe give them gifts, form a relationship, build trust… and then move forward from that point,” says S/Sgt. Bev Voros.
The victim reported the assaults to police in November of 2014.
Paul Rene Desmarais, 61, was arrested on Thursday, February 12th.
He has been charged with sexual assault, sexual interference with a child under 16 and sexual contact with a youth by a person in authority.
Anyone who has any information relating to this case is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers.
To assist the public, police have released a photo of Desmarais. He is described as 5’9”’ tall, 175 lbs. with a medium build, blue eyes and black hair.
“We don’t know if there’s other victims,” added S/Sgt. Voros.
Calgary Transit responds to sexual assault allegations
Calgary Transit says the employee in question is no longer working with The City of Calgary, and calls this type of allegation “extremely rare.”
“The City of Calgary employs professional transit operators who are expected to follow City policies, procedures, code of conduct, and a respectful workplace policy,” said a statement issued on Friday. “The City is treating the matter seriously and is conducting its own internal investigation.”
Calgary City manager Jeff Fielding says the city has a “genuine concern for everyone affected by this issue.”
“The public places a great deal of trust in us and we must always strive to serve Calgarians professionally.”
New transit operators are all subject to police background checks before they are hired.
In addition, the City of Calgary says they enforce an extensive screening process which includes reference checks and a rigorous behavioural interviewing process.
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