Airdrie RCMP charged a 25-year-old female basketball coach July 11 with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to Alberta RCMP “ K” Division Media Spokesperson Corporal Laurel Scott.
Airdrie RCMP charged a 25-year-old female basketball coach July 11 with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to Alberta RCMP “ K” Division Media Spokesperson Corporal Laurel Scott.
Kristie Sheils appeared in Calgary Provincial Court July 11 and was released on her own recognizance with a number of conditions, including having no contact with the victim.
According to Scott, RCMP received a complaint July 1 and conducted an investigation, resulting in Sheils arrest July 11. The victim's name, age and gender are not being released due to the nature of the offense and because the victim is a youth.
“ The Airdrie RCMP were made aware of this complaint and launched the investigation initially and conducted the investigation,” Scott said. “ It fell into place that they laid the charge. They got the complaint in Airdrie.”
Sheils is an assistant coach with the Junior Dinos at the University of Calgary where she also plays with the Dinos women's team.
One of the other conditions of Sheils release is that she is to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 unless in the presence of an adult who is at least 21 years old. She is also prohibited from working or volunteering in any way that would put her in a position of trust or authority over anyone under the age of 18.
According to the Dinos website, Sheils, a fifth-year point guard from Ellesmere Point, England, was named to the second-team all-star team in March by the Canada West Universities Athletics Association. She currently resides in Calgary.
Sheils will next appear in Calgary at the Case Management Office July 28 to enter a plea.
The University of Calgary provided the following statement to the Airdrie City View July 13:
“ The University of Calgary is co-operating with RCMP on an investigation related to an assistant basketball coach with the Junior Dinos program. The accused was a member of the Dinos women's basketball team for four years (2012 - 2016), was a coach with the Junior Dinos basketball program for three years, and recently completed a bachelor of arts degree.
“ She has been relieved of her coaching duties. The university takes the safety of everyone on campus very seriously and follows strict hiring procedures for coaching staff, including mandatory vulnerable sector checks when working with youth.”
The statement went on to say that the University of Calgary would have no further comment on the issue as the matter is now before the courts.
