Fred Church, formerly a prominent Sunshine Coast businessman and volunteer, has pleaded guilty to sex offences against three children.
Church, 69, was scheduled to stand trial on eight charges of sexually assaulting or sexually touching three boys and one girl, all between 12 and 15 years old. But after Church's lawyer negotiated a plea bargain with the Crown prosecutor, Church pleaded guilty to just three charges in Vancouver Supreme Court Aug. 4: sexual assault, sexual exploitation and sexual interference with a person under the age of 14.
The victims are two boys and a girl who all knew Church in 2001 and 2002, when the incidents occurred.
Four teens testified at Church's preliminary hearing in February.
In their testimony, they described a series of enticements and favours from Church, such as buying them snacks, teaching them to drive, giving them marijuana and alcohol and inviting them for nude soaks in his home hot tub. Each of the teens described how Church made sexual advances to them, starting with a hand on the knee. One of the boys said Church progressed to more explicit acts, including sexual massage with a vibrator.
Those teens said they were too embarrassed and frightened to complain to Church or tell anyone else about the incidents."I was trying to convince myself it didn't happen," said one boy.
The incidents came to light after several parents heard rumours from their children that Church was a "pervert." The parents went to the RCMP, who arrested Church and searched his Halfmoon Bay home in July 2002.
A vibrator and several bottles of baby lotion, which were seized from Church's house, were presented as evidence during the preliminary hearing. A second vibrator was given to police by the mother of one of the teens, who testified that her son and his friend brought it home after seeing Church.
"They said they got it from Fred," said the mother. "I didn't really believe them [at first] He appeared to be a nice old fellow."
Police also seized three guns from Church's home in the search. In February he pleaded guilty to improper storage of firearms and was fined $300.
Church's sentencing hearing on the sex charges is scheduled for Oct. 6 in B.C. Supreme Court.
