Credits: SUN NEWS NETWORK.
WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg teacher once regarded as a role model for aboriginals aross the country has been convicted for the sexual assaults of two teen boys.
In front of a crowded court room Friday, Justice Colleen Suche convicted Thomas Edwards of three counts of sexual assault.
The assaults occurred between 2003 and 2007, when the victims were between 14 and 16 years old.
Suche found Edwards not guilty of assaulting a third alleged victim during the same time period.
In 2004, Edwards received an Aboriginal Youth Achievement award in recognition of his work changing navy cadet regulations requiring that aboriginal members sport military haircuts. Edwards later became a sought-after speaker across Canada.
Court heard Edwards assaulted the boys -- who described Edwards as a friend and mentor -- while pretending to perform "healing" or "cleansing" ceremonies on them.
The offences came to police attention in 2007 after a friend of one of the victims reported the incidents to a Child and Family Services worker.
Edwards denied the charges, claiming he barely knew the boys and spent very little time with them.
Suche rejected Edwards' testimony, saying he clearly had a much closer relationship with the boys than he claimed.
"I am satisfied that he was looked up to by this group of boys, socialized with them, which included occasionally drinking with them, gave them rides in his car, and bought liquor for them from time to time," Suche said.
Court heard the victims agreed to participate in "healing" ceremonies during which Edwards fondled their naked bodies in a supposed effort to drive away evil spirits. One victim said Edwards performed oral sex on him before he told him to stop.
Suche found Edwards not guilty of sexually exploiting the boys, ruling there was no evidence Edwards wielded power over them.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
dean.pritchard@sunmedia.ca
Twitter: @deanatwpgsun
In front of a crowded court room Friday, Justice Colleen Suche convicted Thomas Edwards of three counts of sexual assault.
The assaults occurred between 2003 and 2007, when the victims were between 14 and 16 years old.
Suche found Edwards not guilty of assaulting a third alleged victim during the same time period.
In 2004, Edwards received an Aboriginal Youth Achievement award in recognition of his work changing navy cadet regulations requiring that aboriginal members sport military haircuts. Edwards later became a sought-after speaker across Canada.
Court heard Edwards assaulted the boys -- who described Edwards as a friend and mentor -- while pretending to perform "healing" or "cleansing" ceremonies on them.
The offences came to police attention in 2007 after a friend of one of the victims reported the incidents to a Child and Family Services worker.
Edwards denied the charges, claiming he barely knew the boys and spent very little time with them.
Suche rejected Edwards' testimony, saying he clearly had a much closer relationship with the boys than he claimed.
"I am satisfied that he was looked up to by this group of boys, socialized with them, which included occasionally drinking with them, gave them rides in his car, and bought liquor for them from time to time," Suche said.
Court heard the victims agreed to participate in "healing" ceremonies during which Edwards fondled their naked bodies in a supposed effort to drive away evil spirits. One victim said Edwards performed oral sex on him before he told him to stop.
Suche found Edwards not guilty of sexually exploiting the boys, ruling there was no evidence Edwards wielded power over them.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
dean.pritchard@sunmedia.ca
Twitter: @deanatwpgsun
