Volunteer sponsor charged with sexual assault

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