Volunteer Charged with Sex Offences

By Ashley Martin
Star Phoenix
February 26, 2015

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/life/Volunteer+charged+with+offences/10844032/story.html

A Scout leader and church youth group volunteer is facing three charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a youth.

Nat han Michael Labatt, 24, of Regina is charged with sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching and possession of child pornography following an RCMP investigation.

Through Scouts Canada, where Labatt worked with boys aged 14 to 17 as a Venturer leader, and the Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic churches, he attended various youth camps, retreats and other events throughout Saskatchewan between 2009 and 2014.

RCMP believe there could be more potential victims, most likely male youths, and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Father Lorne Crozon, vicar-general of the Archdiocese of Regina, said Labatt participated in youth rallies and retreat work.

The situation is "regrettable," Crozon said.

"This is something that we just don't want to see happening in the Archdiocese of Regina or to anybody."

The organization is "working very, very hard at making sure that we're protecting our young people," he said.

"We're hoping that if anybody has been involved in any of this, they would contact the RCMP and then contact the Archdiocese." Crozon said no youths involved in the church have come forward with complaints regarding Labatt. As far as he is aware, it's the first time a church volunteer in Regina is alleged to have committed a sexual infraction against a youth, he said.

Anyone who volunteers with youth in the Archdiocese, must first submit a clean criminal record check and two non-family references.

"We did those things where Nathan Labatt was concerned, and certainly he provided a clean criminal record and also the references came back clean as well," Crozon said.

John Petitti of Scouts Canada in Ottawa also said Labatt passed the organization's rigorous volunteer check, which involves a police record check (to be renewed at the three-year mark), vulnerable sector screening, a personal interview and three reference checks. The volunteer must also complete child and youth safety training and sign the code of conduct.

Petitti said a key Scouts Canada policy is to have two leaders with the youth at all times.

An allegation like this "hurts us as an organization," he said. "Like every youth-serving organization, we know there are bad people out there who might want to betray organizations like ours in order to harm youth. ... It's particularly challenging when (an) individual has shown no past indication of a desire to cause harm."

Supt. Alfredo Bangloy, officer in charge of provincial policing for the RCMP's F Division, said he couldn't speculate on the number of youths with whom Labatt had contact, but he guesses it's a "large number."

On July 29, the mother of a male youth made a complaint to the Lanigan RCMP, alleging her son had received inappropriate text messages from Labatt.

The complaint resulted in an investigation assisted by Regina RCMP.

Further interviews and gathering of evidence identified a second victim, police said.

The charge of sexual exploitation relates to one complainant; the other two charges relate to the other complainant, Bangloy said.

"I believe they were separate incidents," he added. Labatt was not a Scouts Canada member at the time of the allegation, Petitti said.

Labatt was arrested Jan. 13 and is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Humboldt on March 23.

Labatt travelled to the Philippines last summer on a missionary trip with about 40 Regina Archdiocese members.

"We are aware of that and of other travel, however nothing to date indicates any offences outside of Saskatchewan," Bangloy said. "However, if anything further comes to light, it will be pursued."

RCMP investigators are asking parents whose children had contact with Labatt to ask their kids about any private text or social media conversations they had with him.

Information should be reported to the Saskatchewan RCMP General Investigation Section at 306-780-7127. People who wish to remain anonymous can contact Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers (call 1-800-222-8477, text *8477, or visit saskcrimestoppers. com).

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