Gymnastics coach in Ontario accused of sexually assaulting teen has ties to BC
Posted January 30, 2018 11:15 am.
Last Updated January 30, 2018 11:16 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Police west of Toronto say they’ve charged a gymnastics coach with numerous sexual offences involving a teenaged girl.
Peel Regional Police say they were approached earlier this year by a 15-year-old girl from the region who reported multiple allegations of sexual misconduct over a four-year period.
Police say the accused was the girl’s coach at the time of the alleged incidents.
Police arrested 28-year-old Scott McFarlane on Monday and charged him with one count each of sexual assault, sexual interference, luring a child under 16 years old, making sexually explicit material available to a child under 16 years of age and indecent exposure to a child.
Police say McFarlane has worked as a coach in the Mississauga, Ont., area, as well as Ottawa, Oakville, Ont., and Western Canada, though they did not provide further details.
Gymnastics BC has issued a statement (posted in full at the bottom of this article), saying McFarlane has ties to this province.
“Although Mr. McFarlane has never been a member of Gymnastics BC, he has previously worked as a guest coach at Gymnastics BC training camps,” reads the statement.
Police say they believe there may be other victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Gymnastics BC says it has not received any complaints about McFarlane, but encourages anyone who has concerns to contact police in Peel.
McFarlane has been suspended indefinitely by Gymnastics Ontario and Gymnastics Canada.
Gymnastics BC says “through a national reciprocity agreement, Gymnastics BC has enforced this suspension, making Mr. McFarlane ineligible to become a member of Gymnastics BC or coach in British Columbia.
