Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual assault that may be disturbing to some readers.
A 58-year-old Winnipeg man is facing more than 15 charges in connection with a report of sexual abuse and exploitation involving multiple children and youths over two decades.
Winnipeg police said Leslie Edward Semchyshyn was arrested on April 28 after a lengthy investigation that began when the child abuse unit was first contacted in June of last year. The alleged incidents began in the late 1990s, and involve victims who were between the ages of four and 20 years old and went to the suspect’s home for child-minding and as visitors when they got older.
Police said Semchyshyn is accused of sleeping unclothed with the victims, touching them in an unwanted sexual manner, and asking them to touch his body. As they grew older, police said, they were allegedly given drugs and alcohol at his home.
Const. Dani McKinnon said the home wasn’t being used for public babysitting or as a childcare centre.
“This was a friend of another adult who would leave their child there from time to time,” McKinnon said.
“(The victims) were in the accused’s care as a babysitter temporarily at times when they were in the younger ages, but they maintained a family/friend connection with him, and as they were adolescents, they would go to his home and they were provided drugs and alcohol.
“At the end of the day, when you leave your child with someone, you trust that person — you believe in them, that they will take care of your child and not harm them.”
Semchyshyn faces seven sexual assault charges, five counts of sexual interference, and two counts of invitation to sexual touching, plus a charge of sexual exploitation, supplying liquor to a person under 18, and administering a noxious thing with intent to cause bodily harm.
He was released on an undertaking, police said, as mandated by the Criminal Code.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault or is involved in an abusive situation, support resources include WPS victim services at 204-986-6350 and the Klinic Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 204-786-8631.