Update: Volunteer sponsor charged with sexual assault
Following further investigation into a volunteer sponsor assisting newcomer families with the immigration process, two more victims have been identified, leading to additional charges.
It is believed that one victim met a man assigned to families new to Canada through a local organization, where he then leveraged his position as a volunteer sponsor, taking advantage of the victim’s immigration status to commit sexual offences.
The second victim came forward after recognizing the name in a media release as that of a teacher from 1967 who had repeatedly physically assaulted him while he was a student.
On Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, Robert Edward CHOQUETTE, 83, of Calgary, was charged with:
- four counts of sexual assault
- one count of criminal harassment
CHOQUETTE was also charged with three counts of wounding/ assault causing bodily harm under the 1967 Criminal Code.
CHOQUETTE will next appear in court on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
We encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault to contact us, no matter when the incident occurred, at 403-266-1234, or by calling 9-1-1 if they are in immediate danger. There is no statute of limitations on criminal sexual offences in Canada and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a serious crime to report it, even if many years have passed since the incident.
Original release below
A volunteer sponsor helping families coming to Canada through the immigration process has been charged with sexual assault.
On Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, an adult attended the front counter of a district office to report multiple sexual assaults that took place between December 2023 and June 2024.
After investigation, it was determined that a man had been assigned to a newcomer family through a local organization and, on three separate occasions, had sexually assaulted the victim. It is believed he leveraged his position as a volunteer sponsor and took advantage of the immigration status of the victim to commit the offences.
Robert Edward CHOQUETTE, 83, of Calgary, has been charged with three counts of sexual assault. He will next appear in court Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024.
“We understand the immense bravery required for a sexual assault victim to come forward,” says Inspector Keith Hurley of the Calgary Police Service. “In this situation, we also acknowledge the added fear regarding the potential impact on their immigration status. We are encouraged that the victim reported the assaults, enabling us to hold the offender accountable. We want to reassure everyone that reporting a crime will not affect your immigration status.”
We encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault to contact us, no matter when the incident occurred, at 403-266-1234, or by calling 9-1-1 if they are in immediate danger. There is no statute of limitations on criminal sexual offences in Canada and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a serious crime to report it, even if many years have passed since the incident.
Anyone with further information about this incident is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips
Case # CA24425998/5965