A youth program leader at a Toronto recreation centre has been charged after police said a 14-year-old girl was sexually exploited while attending a sports program.
Police said the girl attended a sports program at Dennis R. Timbrell Recreation Centre between August 2015 and September 2016. During her time at the program, officers said she was exploited by the basketball coach. Investigators said the exploitation stopped when she left the program.
The City of Toronto issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying staff are taking the situation “extremely seriously” and the allegations are “very concerning.” The city said the accused has been employed as a part-time recreation worker in the North York area since 2007.
“All hiring procedures were followed with respect to the individual in question, who underwent a police reference check (PRC) as required by policy; there were no findings with respect to the PRC,” City of Toronto spokeswoman Wynna Brown said in an email to Global News.
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“The individual has been out of the workplace since Nov. 9, and is on administrative leave without pay, pending the outcome of the police investigation and legal proceedings.”
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Brown said due to confidentiality issues, further information can’t be provided. She added the city is working closely with Toronto police and cooperating fully with their investigation.
Christopher Melville, 30, of Toronto has been charged with sexual exploitation, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and telecommunication with a person under 18 years old for specific criminal offences (sexual exploitation).
He is scheduled to appear in a Toronto court on Jan. 19.
Anyone with information is being asked to call the Toronto Police Service Child and Youth Advocacy Centre at 416-808-2922 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
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