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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Former RCMP officer facing jail time

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 09/8/2010 1:42 PM

A former RCMP officer is facing prison time after admitting he tried to sexually assault a teenaged girl while on duty at a Manitoba reserve.

Benjamin Neufeldt, 26, pleaded guilty Tuesday to forcible confinement and invitation to sexual touching stemming from the August 2008 incident at Bloodvein First Nation, about 200 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

Neufeldt resigned following his arrest and has been free on bail living in British Columbia. He is expected to be sentenced later this year. Special prosecutor Robert Tapper said he will be seeking a six-year penalty, while defence lawyer Todd Bourcier is requesting a 30-month term behind bars.

Queen’s Bench Justice Kenneth Hanssen has ordered a pre-sentence report which will examine Neufeldt’s background.

Lawyers presented an agreed statement of facts Tuesday in which Neufeldt admits meeting the 17-year-old victim after her mother called police asking for help in removing her from a party in the community.

Neufeldt got the teen out of the house, then admits bringing her to his own residence where he tried sexually assaulting her while refusing to let her leave. She eventually managed to flee and reported the incident to authorities, who began a lengthy investigation.

Neufeldt, who was a constable with two years experience at the time, was immediately re-assigned to administrative duty. Charges weren’t laid until December 2008 following consultation with Manitoba justice officials.

The Bloodvein RCMP detachment was first established in 2007. Previously, members of Selkirk's rural detachment would routinely fly into the community to provide policing.

www.mikeoncrime.com

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