Sundre Minor Hockey Association has removed from its executive a Sundre woman who faces a string of sexual offence charges involving four teenagers after a recent RCMP investigation.
In light of the allegations that were made public by police Monday, April 8 – the Sundre Minor Hockey Association’s vice-president emailed the Albertan a prepared statement distancing the organization from the accused who had been serving as the association's board secretary.
“Sundre Minor Hockey is aware that a volunteer, who acted in an executive role with the board, is currently under investigation by the RCMP,” reads part of the statement issued by Amber Jenkins on Monday evening.
“While the allegations are not related to hockey activities or Sundre Minor Hockey, we have removed this individual from the board while the matter is before the courts,” wrote Jenkins.
“To be clear, the accused was not a coach, manager or otherwise directly involved in the delivery of hockey programming to the kids of the association,” she said.
“To protect the integrity of the ongoing police investigation, we will not be making further comment.”
In a press release issued earlier on Monday, police said Sundre RCMP were made aware on March 27 about a complaint of an alleged sexual assault involving a volunteer with the Sundre Minor Hockey Association.
“RCMP initiated an investigation and determined that there were four victims, all male teenagers,” police said.
On April 5, Alexa Suitor, 32, was arrested and subsequently charged with the following:
• sexual interference;
• sexual assault; and
• four counts of making sexual explicit material available to a child.
Following a judicial interim release hearing, Suitor was released on conditions to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Didsbury on April 22.
“As the matter is now before the courts, and in an effort to protect the victims' privacy, no further information will be released” by RCMP, police said.