Corrections officer jailed after being accused of contact with alleged victim

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A corrections officer at the Manitoba Youth Centre, who is charged with sex offences involving a teenage inmate, has been put behind bars after she was allegedly in contact with him.

Brenna Beauregard, 26, is accused of breaching a court order that prohibits communication with her alleged victim.

In December, she was charged with sexual assault, making child pornography and two counts each of luring and sexual exploitation. She was released on conditions, but charged again after investigators said she contacted the youth on Jan. 7, court records show.

She was rearrested on Feb. 7 and has remained in custody since then, records show.

Provincial court Judge Rachel Rusen denied bail to Beauregard at a two-day hearing in February.

Crown prosecutor Larissa Campbell presented the case against Beauregard and opposed her release from custody. Details of the proceedings, including the age of the victim, are subject to a publication ban.

Police have said the accused formed a relationship with the youth in February 2024.

“The relationship continued and resulted in multiple sexual assaults against the victim within the facility. Staff became aware of the incidents and the WPS was notified,” police said in a news release.

Beauregard was the second youth centre employee to be charged with sex offences last year.

Troy David Wensel of Winnipeg, now 52, was arrested in November and charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation and obtaining sexual services from a person under 18.

Police alleged Wensel had formed a relationship with a female youth between 2022 and 2023.

“During that time he provided her with extra canteen items, and in exchange, he sexually assaulted her,” police said.

Wensel was released and barred from access to minors.

Court records show no new charges have been laid. His next court appearance is April 9.

The charges against Beauregard and Wensel have not been tested in court, and both are presumed innocent.

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said in December that the Manitoba Youth Centre — the only youth correctional facility in the province — would be subject to a review.

A provincial spokesperson said Friday investigations into both cases had been completed.

“The results will be used to make improvements… Given that these matters also remain before the court, the department has no further comment on the results of these investigations.”

Sherry Gott, the provincial advocate for youth, said her office has requested additional information. The independent office has the legislative ability to issue formal recommendations to improve public services.

“A letter was sent from our office to (the justice department) inquiring about these concerns but to date there has been no response. As with any department working with vulnerable youth, we would hope that there are appropriate measures in place to protect them and that (the department) would do their due diligence,” Gott said in an email statement.

Corrections officers at the youth facility, who are referred to as juvenile counsellors, are subject to a criminal record check, child and adult abuse registry check, a vulnerable sector search and other enhanced security measures. Successful candidates complete a mandatory eight-week training program.

Speaking generally, University of Manitoba assistant law professor Brandon Trask said people convicted of sexual offences involving children typically face stiffer penalties if they were in a position of authority at the time the incidents occurred.

“When you’ve got somebody in a corrections type role, if they are found to be guilty, that’s horrible because those children, their liberty is significantly taken away. They are essentially forced to be around the folks who are, in these cases, alleged to have used their positions to abuse these children,” Trask said.

He noted recent rulings from the Supreme Court have prompted a “significant reset” in how judges sentence such offences.

Trask pointed to the sentence given to Winnipeg sex-offender Kelsey McKay.

McKay, a high school football coach, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to nine counts of sexual assault and two counts of luring in relation to nine teenage victims he had coached at Vincent Massey Collegiate and Churchill High School.

Provincial court Judge Ray Wyant sentenced McKay to 20 years in prison last October.

“Even a decade ago you would have seen a much lower sentence. The Supreme Court has told all other courts, ‘Hey, we really need to send a message, take this seriously any time there is a sexual offence being committed against children,’” Trask said.

The maximum sentence for sexual exploitation, luring and making child pornography is 14 years. Sexual assault carries a maximum sentence of 10 years if the complainant is older than 16 years, and 14 years if they are younger, as per the Criminal Code.

— with files from Erik Pindera

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca