A man charged in relation to abuse allegations by former students of Legacy Christian Academy has pleaded guilty to sexual assault.
Aaron Benneweis, former athletic director at the Saskatoon Christian school, appeared by phone in Saskatoon provincial court on Thursday morning and pleaded guilty to sexual assault.
A survivor took in the proceedings.
“There are a lot of people in my shoes who don’t get this opportunity, so I do hold it near and dear to my heart,” said complainant, Jennifer Beaudry.
“I couldn’t help but grin in my chair, to be honest. This has been coming for a really, really long time. I’ve been waiting to hear those words.”
Benneweis was charged in February and had over a dozen court hearings before his plea was entered Thursday morning.
He appeared by phone in the courtroom. It was the first time Beaudry had heard his voice in almost 15 years.
“To see him have to step up to the plate and face his demons and say Yes, I am guilty of this, felt really, really good,” Beaudry said.
She said she hasn’t had any sort of closure since the beginning of the abuse when she was 13 years old.
“My formative years were affected heavily by this, and it definitely changed the way that I viewed the world and viewed people and relationships, but I grew up. I was a kid at the time, but I grew up and remember the details.”
Beaudry said that it feels validating to have the power in her hands, and no longer in the accused’s.
Benneweis is one of dozens of defendants in a $25-million lawsuit against Legacy Christian Academy, known then as Christian Centre Academy.
The school is run by Mile Two Church.
The allegations in the civil case have yet to be proven in court. Mile Two has not provided a statement of defence.
Benneweis is the first charged to enter a plea and have a sentencing date set.
Three others related to the school are facing abuse charges including former principal Duff Friesen, and former director John Olubobokun.
Former director and vice-principal Ken Schultz was most recently arrested and charged with sexual assault.
“It gives us all hope that we can move forward with some justice for this,” Beaudry said, outside the courthouse, supported by other former students.
Benneweis will be back in court on January 4, 2024, for sentencing.
Beaudry said she is looking forward to seeing him face-to-face in the courtroom.