Montreal police are looking for potential victims after three men who coached sports at St-Laurent High School were arrested and charged in connection with an investigation into sex crimes involving minors.
Charles-Xavier Boislard, Daniel Lacasse and Robert Luu were arrested on Wednesday and appeared before a city court judge virtually the next day.
The alleged crimes involve at least two minors and took place between 2008 and 2017, according to police. The three men face a total of eight charges between them.
Lacasse, 43, was charged with one count of sexual exploitation while 31-year-old Luu was charged with sexual assault, sexual assault and solicitation for sexual assault.
Boislard, 43, was charged with charges of sexual assault, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and solicitation of sexual assault. He was released on bail on Thursday under various conditions, while the other two remain in custody and will return to court on Friday.
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Three coaches at Montreal High School arrested after investigation into sexual assault
Investigators have reason to believe there may be other victims and say three men were involved in the girls’ basketball team at École secondaire Saint-Laurent.
“As many underage girls have played in the sports teams to which the three men are attached over the years, investigators have reason to believe that other young girls from 2005 until now could have been victims of similar acts,” the police force said in the statement. . a statement Thursday.
Montreal police are asking anyone who may have been a victim or a witness to the alleged sexual crimes to contact investigators directly at 514-280-8502. They can also go to their local police station.
Anyone who wants to share information about the case, but in a confidential matter, can do so by contacting Info-Crime Montreal online or by phone at 514-393-1133.
School board provides support
The news of the arrests of the three coaches at Saint-Laurent Secondary School made parents like Annalisa Menez feel scared.
“It’s quite scary,” she said.
The Center de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys (CSSMB), the school board, says the three staff members did not have criminal records.
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Dominic Bertrand, director general of the CSSMB, wrote in a statement on Thursday that Boilard, Lacasse and Luu had been suspended.
“This situation has shaken us all and we take it very seriously,” he wrote. “We will meet with parents and staff members to accompany them, support them and refer them to the right resources, if necessary.”
The school board said a trauma response team is also available for students.
“We will stay in touch with the authorities and put in place any recommendations and instructions that may be issued to us,” Bertrand said.
–with files from Global News’s Brayden Jagger Haines and The Canadian Press
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