Belleville woman charged with sexual exploitation worked at Children’s Aid at time of alleged offences

Police have confirmed that a Belleville woman facing several sex-related offences in relation to two historical sexual assaults worked at the Belleville Children’s Aid at the time of the alleged offences.

Belleville police began a sexual assault investigation after a victim came forward in June 2018 alleging assaults that occurred between 2012 and 2013.

As a result of a lengthy investigation, police identified two victims, who claim they were assaulted by 48-year-old Sandra Forcier of Belleville.

According to Forcier’s LinkedIn account, at the time of the alleged offences, she worked at the Belleville branch of Highland Shores Children’s Aid. This was confirmed by Belleville police and Tami Callahan, the new executive director of the Belleville region’s Children’s Aid branch.

Callahan said Forcier was one of their old employees, and left the job in December of 2013.

She could not elaborate on why Forcier left but said there was no indication the alleged victims were any of the children she worked with at the time of her employment.

Callahan said she was not consulted by police about the investigation, and learned of the charges from people in the office.

Forcier is currently employed at the Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Centre. Executive director Sheila Braidek says Forcier has been on leave from her job as a counselor, who works with pregnant women and mothers with addiction issues, for an extended period of time.

Police say Forcier was released on bail with several conditions and will appear in a Belleville court to answer to her charges in February.

Police are asking anyone with information about the investigation to contact Det.-Sgt. Pat Kellar at 613-966-0882 ext. 2328 or pkellar@police.belleville.on.ca