Editor’s note: On July 27, 2018, the charge against Sheils was stayed. Charges are typically stayed in cases where the Crown no longer believes there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction.
A 25-year-old assistant coach with the University of Calgary’s Junior Dinos basketball program has been charged with sexual exploitation.
Airdrie RCMP said they charged Kristie Sheils with one count of sexual exploitation of a young person. The name of the victim, who police say is a youth, cannot be released.
Airdrie RCMP said they received a complaint on July 1. Sheils was charged on July 11.
The University of Calgary lists Kristie Sheils as a women’s basketball summer camp coach.
The University of Calgary’s website says any youth between the ages of seven and 17 can become a member of the Junior Dinos.
The university issued a statement in response to the charge laid against Sheils on Wednesday afternoon.
“The university takes the safety of everyone on campus very seriously and follows strict hiring procedures for coaching staff, including mandatory vulnerable sector checks when working with youth,” the statement read in part.
Sheils appeared in court in Calgary Tuesday morning where she was released on several conditions, which include:
- Not to have contact with the victim
- Not to have contact with any children under 18 unless the youth is in the presence of an adult who is at least 21
- Not to be employed or engaged in volunteer service which would put her in a position of trust or authority to children under 18
Sheils is scheduled to appear in court in Calgary on Thursday.
You can read the entire statement from the University of Calgary below:
The University of Calgary is cooperating with RCMP on an investigation related to an assistant basketball coach with the Junior Dinos program. The accused was a member of the Dinos women’s basketball team for four years (2012 – 2016), was a coach with the Junior Dinos basketball program for three years, and recently completed a bachelor of arts degree. She has been relieved of her coaching duties. The university takes the safety of everyone on campus very seriously and follows strict hiring procedures for coaching staff, including mandatory vulnerable sector checks when working with youth. As the matter is now before the courts, the university will have no further comment.