Discover Weyburn (discoverweybun.com)
Written by Steven Wilson on Thursday, 26 February 2015
The RCMP have arrested a man on charges of sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching, and possession of child pornography who was an active volunteer with a number of youth groups.
Nathan Labatt, a 24-year-old man from Regina, attended a number of youth camps, retreats and other events across the province between 2009 and 2014. In the past, he has been associated with Scouts Canada, as well as the Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic Churches. The community involvement had the accused working primarily with boys, but girls as well, from 2009-2014.
We reached out to local Scout groups, and were referred to John Petitti, the Executive Director of Communications for the organization. Petitti explained that Labatt is a former volunteer of Scouts Canada, having left the organization in 2013 “We’re committed to providing safe scouting adventures to the youth in our care, so a situation like this certainly concerns us deeply,” he said. He added that they are working with the RCMP in the course of the investigation.
The charges he is currently facing stem from a complaint filed in 2014 by a parent about inappropriate text messages from an adult man being sent to their teen-aged son. Investigators determined that there may be additional victims as well. New information during that course identified one additional victim before the arrest was made.
At this point, investigators believe that there may be more victims. They are asking parents who know their children had contact with Nathan Labatt to as their children if there was any private or social media conversations with the accused. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Saskatchewan RCMP General Section unit in Regina at 306-780-7127, or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
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Scouts Canada reacts to sex allegations
Metro News
By CJME
The Canadian Press
26 February 2015
REGINA – A spokesman for Scouts Canada says the organization will do everything it can to help a police investigation into allegations involving a volunteer.
Executive director John Petitti says the situation is challenging and concerning.
RCMP say two parents came forward last July after finding inappropriate text messages from an adult man to their teenage son.
Earlier this week, Nathan Labatt, who is 24, was charged with sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching and possession of child pornography.
He is to make his first court appearance in Humboldt, Sask., on March 23.
Police say Labatt was an active volunteer with Scouts Canada and the Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic churches.
Petitti said Scouts Canada performs background checks and puts youth volunteers through vigorous training and monitoring.
He said it’s rare that people who want to harm youth get through.
“It’s a thing that keeps us awake at night,” he said. “It’s something that every youth-serving organization around the globe deals with.”
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Saskatchewan Scout leader charged with sexual exploitation 8
QMI AGENCY
FIRST POSTED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015 05:03 PM EST | UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015 05:16 PM EST
Police in Saskatchewan are asking parents to find out if their children had any “uncomfortable” contact with a 25-year-old Scout leader and Catholic youth group volunteer who has been charged with sex offences.
Nathan Michael Labatt, 24, of Regina, was charged last month with one count each of sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching and possession of child pornography.
Cops in the town of Lanigan, about 200 km northwest of Regina, said they received a complaint in July from a parent who said their son, described as a “youth,” had received inappropriate text messages from a man.
Police said their investigation has identified two male victims and they believe there could be more, male or female.
Labatt has been an active volunteer with Scouts Canada and the Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic churches, among other groups, police said. Between 2009 and 2014, he attended various retreats, youth camps and other events with these organizations, where he would have been around boys aged 14 to 17.
Police encourage anyone with information to come forward and for parents to talk to their kids about the nature of any contact they may have had with Labatt
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Regina Scout, church volunteer Nathan Labatt facing sex charges
Labatt charged with sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching, possession of child pornography
CBC News Posted: Feb 25, 2015 11:56 AM CT Last Updated: Feb 25, 2015 4:27 PM CT
RCMP have charged Regina’s Nathan Michael Labatt with sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching, and possession of child pornography. (Submitted by RCMP)
RCMP have charged Regina’s Nathan Michael Labatt with sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching, and possession of child pornography after months of investigating.
On July 29, 2014, Lanigan RCMP received a complaint from a parent who said their son received inappropriate text messages from a man. RCMP in Regina joined the investigation and determined there may be additional victims.
25-year-old Nathan Labatt has been a volunteer with a number of youth groups, including Scouts Canada. (Submitted by RCMP)
On Jan. 13, police arrested Labatt and he was charged the following day.
The 24-year-old will make his first court appearance in Humboldt, Sask., on March 23, 2015.
RCMP said Labatt has been a volunteer with a number of youth groups, including Scouts Canada. Between 2009 and 2014, police say the accused attended various youth camps and retreats in Saskatchewan where he would have been working with kids between 14 and 17 years old.
Investigators believe there may be more victims. RCMP are now asking anyone with information to contact the Saskatchewan RCMP General Investigation Section at 306-780-7127 or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
“That is never easy for families to have a conversation like the ones we are asking for today,” Supt. Alfredo Bangloy said Wednesday. “These are important conversations and are an important first step in investigating files like these.”
Scouts Canada issues letter to families
Scouts Canada sent a letter to “Scouting Families in Regina and Moose Jaw.”
It says Labatt served as a volunteer in the Regina area until he left Scouts Canada in September 2013.
Scouts Canada said in the letter it has been supporting the RCMP investigation and will continue to do so.
According to a spokesman for Scouts Canada, it was a Scout member who received the text messages and a parent, after seeing the texts, followed up.
“In this particular case our strategy worked exactly as it should,” John Petitti, from Scouts Canada, said. “Last July an observant parent identified a concern, contacted the police and Scouts Canada and then we supported the investigation.”
According to Petitti, Labatt had completed his most recent criminal record check several months before he left Scouts.
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RCMP ask for assistance in investigation into Sexual Exploitation
Battlefords Daily News
On July 29, 2014, Lanigan RCMP received a complaint from the parent of a male youth. The complainant advised that their son had received inappropriate text messages from an adult male. This complaint resulted in an investigation being conducted with the assistance of the Regina RCMP General Investigation Section.
As investigators were looking into the initial complaint, they determined there may be additional victims. As a result of this, investigators conducted additional interviews and gathered further evidence. This new information identified one additional victim.
On January 13, 2015, Nathan Michael LABATT (DOB: 1990-11-01) of Regina was arrested. On January 14, 2015, he was charged with the following:
- Sexual exploitation, Section 153(1) CC
- Invitation to sexual touching, Section 152 CC
- Possession of child pornography, Section 163.1(4)
He will make his first court appearance at Saskatchewan Provincial Court in Humboldt on March 23, 2015 at 10:00
During the investigation, investigators determined the accused was an active volunteer with a number of youth groups, specifically: Scouts Canada and the Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic Churches. The accused attended various youth camps, retreats, and other events with these organizations in Saskatchewan between the years of 2009 and 2014. This community involvement means the accused was working with male youth between the ages of 14 and 17.
At this point, investigators believe there may be additional victims and that any potential victims are male, between the ages of 14 and 17; however, there could be female victims as well.
Because investigators believe there may be additional victims, they are asking anyone with information to please come forward. Investigators are asking parents who know their children had contact with Nathan Labatt to ask their children if they had any private text or social media conversations with Nathan Labatt. If parents determine their children did have private text or social media conversations with Nathan Labatt, parents are asked to discuss with their children the nature of the these conversations and report anything they are uncomfortable with to the Saskatchewan RCMP General Investigation Section.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Saskatchewan RCMP General Investigation Section at 306-780-7127 Individuals who wish to remain anonymous are asked to call Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through SaskTel at *8477, or submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com
Supt. Alfredo Bangloy will speak to the media today at 1:00 p.m. at Saskatchewan RCMP Headquarters, 6101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina. This will be the only time Supt. Bangloy is available for interviews and there will be no interviews given prior to this.
Media outlets in Saskatchewan who do not have an office in Regina are able to participate in a teleconference of the news conference. Media wishing to participate in this option are asked to pre-register by emailing RCMP_Saskatchewan_Media_Relations@rcmp-grc.gc.ca Conference call details will only be distributed to those who pre-register by 12:30 p.m.
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RCMP Warn Parents of Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation(RCMP Statement Included)
Discover Humboldt
Written by Angie Dukart on Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Parents are being advised to talk with their children about possible contact with a Regina man charged with sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching, and possession of child pornography.
On July 29, 2014, Lanigan RCMP received a complaint from the parent of a male youth, who had text messages from Nathan Michael Labatt.
As the investigation continued it was believed there may be additional victims. As investigators gathered more information a second victim was identified.
Labatt was an active volunteer with a number of youth groups within the Roman Catholic church, and the Ukrainian Catholic church and Scouts Canada, he also attended various youth camps, retreats, and other events with these organizations in the province between the years of 2009 and 2014.
Police believe there may be additional male victims between the ages of 14 and 17. There may be female victims as well.
Anyone with information is asked to come forward. In addition, Parents who know their children had contact with Labatt are being asked to talk with their kids about any private or social media conversations with the man, and to report any uncomfortable situation.
Details pertaining to Labatt and to this investigation in general should be reported to the Saskatchewan RCMP General Investigation Section at 306-780-7127, or to Crime Stoppers if you wish to remain anonymous.
Labatt was charged on January 14th and is scheduled to appear in Humboldt court on March 23rd.
You can hear a statement from the RCMP below.
Click here to link to article – scroll down to access audio file of RCMP statement
Note the following in the CBC article (fourth one down) :
“According to a spokesman for Scouts Canada, it was a Scout member who received the text messages and a parent, after seeing the texts, followed up.”
Impressed with the comprehensive approach being taken by RCMP.