Sex abuse charges date to 1990s: WPS

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This article was published 05/05/2023 (1122 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg police have charged a 58-year-old man who allegedly sexually assaulted children while babysitting and continued to abuse them as they became young adults.

Police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said the abuse and exploitation happened over two decades, starting in the late 1990s, and was reported to investigators last year.

“It’s an extremely brave decision to make,” she said of the seven females who came forward and provided details of alleged incidents.

The victims were between four and 20 years old when they went to the suspect’s Winnipeg home both for child-minding as kids, and as visitors when they were older, according to police.

Detectives from the child abuse unit began investigating in June 2022, after one person reported allegations.

“They had reported something that happened several years before,” said McKinnon.

When more survivors came forward and spoke to investigators, they gave similar accounts of sexual abuse and exploitation by a man they knew, said police.

A justice source said the suspect, who has required a wheelchair for years, may have used his circumstances as a way to manipulate children.

McKinnon said the man babysat for parents, including friends, who had “well-established” relationships with him.

“Sometimes, the child would have a friend join, as well, and he would watch them together,” she said.

The suspect allegedly asked the survivors to touch his body.

He was accused of sleeping naked with them and touching them in an unwanted sexual manner, said police.

As the victims became adolescents, the man allegedly gave them drugs and alcohol at his home.

Police have not ruled out the possibility of additional victims, according to McKinnon. “We are available if anyone does want to come forward.”

On April 28, police charged Leslie Edward Semchyshyn with seven counts of sexual assault, five counts of sexual interference and two counts of invitation to sexual touching.

He was also charged with sexual exploitation, administering a noxious thing with intent to endanger life or cause bodily harm, and supplying alcohol to a person under 18.

Semchyshyn was released on an undertaking, as mandated by the Criminal Code, said police.

He has no prior criminal convictions in Manitoba, court records show.

Semchyshyn has an administrative court date scheduled for May 16 in Winnipeg.

Police are asking anyone with information that could help their investigation to call the sex crimes unit at 204-986-3296.

McKinnon said resources and support are made available to survivors in cases of sexual abuse via the Winnipeg Police Service’s victim services unit.

Referrals can be made to outside agencies which offer assistance, she said.

Anyone who requires support is asked to call the WPS’s victim services unit at 204-986-6350 or Klinic’s sexual assault crisis line at 204-786-8631, said police.

— with files from Erik Pindera

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching