A youth leader at a Calgary church has been charged with sexual assault, and the child victim says the assaults took place over a decade ago inside the church and at a home in the northwest.
“The accused cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act as he was a youth at the time of the offences,” police said in a statement Wednesday.
Police say the accused, who is now an adult, frequently works alone with children at a church.
In August, the victim came forward and said the abuse happened on numerous occasions between 2011 and 2013.
Police say the victim was a member of El Renacer church and police believe the sexual assaults occurred at a residence in the northwest community of Panorama Hills and at the church.
The victim was seven years old at the time of the abuse and investigators believe the victim was pressured into unwanted sexual acts by the unnamed suspect.
On Wednesday, officials with Iglesia El Renacer released a statement regarding the allegations against the accused who they believe left the church nearly a decade ago.
“The leadership of Iglesia El Renacer and its pastor Jose Efrain Guzman (have) been impacted by the news published on Social Media today, Wednesday, November 15, 2023, about the events that occurred, which involve the name of our church.
“These events are completely unknown to the official body, who are fully available to collaborate with the authorities and clear the case of impunity before the law.
“We want to clarify, according to the report made by the police, that the family residing in Panorama Hills NW in those years left the congregation (in) 2014.
“El Renacer Church will be attentive to help the authorities with the investigation.”
The accused has been charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of invitation to sexual touching with a child under 16 years old.
Anyone with information about this incident can contact Calgary police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
“It takes immense courage for victims of sexual assault to come forward to police, especially under these circumstances,” says Det. Tim Fitzgibbon of the Calgary Police Service sexual assault investigations unit.
“I want to thank the victim for speaking out.”