Two separate investigations have led to charges against men with past connections to Boy Scout groups, alleging historic sexual assaults in the Toronto and York Region areas.
Toronto Police allege Edwin Garcia, 63, sexually assaulted two young people and one adult between 1988 and 1998. The alleged assaults occurred both within the city and during trips to Algonquin Provincial Park.
Garcia volunteered with a Boy Scout group operating out of a church near Bloor Street West and Bathurst Street during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Investigators have released his image, seeking information about potential additional victims.
In York Region, Aubrey Wayne Stentiford, 73, faces charges related to historical sexual assaults involving children. Multiple alleged victims came forward earlier this year with accounts dating back to the 1970s.
At the time of the alleged assaults, the victims were all under the age of 16. Stentiford was a leader with the 6th Newmarket Boy Scouts from the early 1970s until approximately 1976.
Investigators noted Stentiford, also known as Wayne, had connections to the Kawartha Lakes Region during the period of the alleged offenses. He was also employed as a school bus driver in York Region at the time of his arrest.
Police have emphasized that sexual assault includes any non-consensual sexual contact and can be reported at any time. There is no time limit for prosecuting these offenses, allowing for justice to be pursued even decades later.
Anyone with information regarding either investigation is urged to contact the respective police services. Investigators are prioritizing the identification of any further potential victims and encourage them to come forward.
