Manitoba care worker accused of sex assault against disabled client

WINNIPEG — A former care worker has been charged with sexual assault against a disabled person in an Interlake community.

A spokesperson for Pulford Community Living Services confirmed to Global News that a male employee was fired earlier this year when allegations of abuse of a client first surfaced.

Pulford, which is based in Winnipeg, provides housing and supports to people with developmental disabilities in Manitoba.

Cody Diell, 27, is charged with three counts of sexual assault against one alleged victim, RCMP said. The Mounties will only say the alleged offenses happened in the first four months of this year, and the matter was investigated by the Lundar RCMP detachment.

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The charges have not been proven in court.

Few details about the victim have been released. The male client was living in the community and receiving “limited” support, said Rod Retelback, the executive director of Pulford. The alleged offences happened outside the employee’s work hours, Retelback said.

Manitoba’s Family Services department said it’s aware of the incident.

“Pulford Community Living Services did recently report a matter involving the potential mistreatment of a vulnerable person under sec. 25.2 of the Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act,”  a departmental spokesperson said in an email statement to Global News. “This matter was thoroughly investigated and the appropriate measures have been taken to ensure the individual’s ongoing safety.”

The province said it’s satisfied there are no other victims in the case.

“All the other individuals that had contact with this employee were interviewed as part of the investigation. At this time, no other vulnerable person disclosed any inappropriate treatment by this employee.”

Diell was released from custody and is due in court Nov. 27.