Coaldale RCMP have charged 32-year-old registered sex offender Trevor Pritchard, of Coaldale, Alta., with six criminal offences after receiving reports that a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at a residence in the town.
“It’s scary and it’s shocking,” said Alexandra Olsen, a 15-year-old Coaldale resident. “You never would imagine that something like that would happen in some place that you know so well where all the people are kind and nice.”
Police said the report came in on Jan. 18 that the incident had occurred on Jan. 17. Mothers in the area with young daughters say the ease they once felt is now gone.
“Concerned, for sure,” Susan Olsen said. “I have a 15-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old daughter so I’ll definitely make them more aware.”
Jennifer Bugg says her daughter usually rides her bike up and down the street.
“No longer will she be doing that without somebody,” she said. “Even if we’re just watching out the window…not happening.”
“That appalls me because I have four girls…that’s pretty scary,” Shawna Desjardins, a Coaldale mother, said. “I’m glad he’s been arrested.”
The complaint was initially brought to the Lethbridge Police Service, but was turned over to Coaldale RCMP.
With assistance of LPS and the ALERT Internet Child Exploitation (“ICE”) team, police executed a search warrant at a Coaldale home in the early evening hours of Jan 18. During the search, Pritchard was taken into custody.
According to RCMP, Pritchard is charged with the following:
Sexual assault Contrary to Section 271 of the Criminal Code
For a sexual purpose unlawfully touch a person under 16 years of age Contrary to section 151 of the Criminal Code
Abduction of a Person under the age of 16 Contrary to Section 280(1) of the Criminal Code
Utter threats Contrary to Section 264.1 (1) (a) of the Criminal Code.
Communicate with a person under 16 years of age to commit a sexual related offence Contrary to Section 172.1 (1) b) of the Criminal Code
Communicate with a person under 18 years of age to commit a sexual related offence Contrary to Section 172. 1(1) (a) of the Criminal Code
Pritchard remains in custody and will appear in Lethbridge Provincial Court on Jan. 25.
RCMP ask if you have any information regarding this matter, or any other matters to contact the Coaldale RCMP or Crimestoppers.
“It’s really a plea to the public to assist us to look into this present investigation and if there’s any other investigations we need to know about,” RCMP Staff Sgt. Glenn Henry said.
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