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	Tips Sought in Probe of Accused Ex-Pastor By Don Peat CNews September 12, 2008 http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2008/09/12/6744951-sun.html With four alleged victims already, Peel Regional Police are making a public plea for any other potential victims of a former Mississauga youth pastor and camp director to come forward. Garth Stanwyn Bent, 48, of Acton, was charged with four counts of indecent sexual assault Tuesday. Those charges come eight months after police charged Bent with one count of indecent assault on a male. "We believe there's a possibility there's more (victims) out there," Const. Wayne Patterson said. All the alleged assaults took place between 1981 and 1982 when Bent was a youth counsel or youth pastor at St. Bride's Church in Mississauga and the out-trip director at the Ontario Pioneer Camp in Port Sydney. The force's Special Victims Unit said all the alleged victims were 12 to 14 at the time. In a statement yesterday, the Anglican Diocese of Toronto revealed it was contacted in December 2004 by a man who reported he had been sexually abused by Bent. At that time Bent was a non-ordained church worker at the Clarkson parish, the diocese said. An internal investigation began but was halted when the complainant contacted police. "Consistent with our policy, our inquiry was immediately halted so as not to interfere with the police investigation," the diocese said. "The diocese has provided pastoral support to the complainant and has had a trained pastoral support person accompany him during his interviews with police. "In addition, we sent a team to St. Bride's to provide the congregation there with any needed counselling and support." Investigators are asking anyone who has had dealings with Bent to contact the Special Victims Unit at 905-453-3311, ext. 3460, or Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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