Former volunteer pleads guilty to sexual assault

A former volunteer with an organization that supports people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault in an Ottawa courtroom Monday.

Charles Bain, 76, was initially charged in October 2023 with sexual assault and sexually exploiting a person with a disability. At the time, police said there could be more victims.

A second woman came forward to police after learning Bain had been charged, resulting in further charges.

Bain met the first victim at a social event coordinated by the organization for which he volunteered. CBC is not naming the organization to protect the woman's identity.

In January 2022, Bain and the woman began communicating online and meeting for coffee at a shop near her residence where she lived independently but received some support.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Bain twice went to the woman's apartment and sexually assaulted her, telling her to keep it a secret and trying to convince her she was confused about what had happened.

Victims went to police

Instead, the woman went to police. An investigation followed and Bain was charged in October 2023.

The second woman had known Bain for about 30 years after meeting him through a shared hobby. They'd often meet for coffee, and in early 2023 Bain began making sexual comments toward her.

During one of those meetings in June or July, he sexually assaulted the woman as the two were saying goodbye.

That woman contacted police after learning Bain had been charged with sexually assaulting a woman with an intellectual disability.

The guilty plea means Bain will avoid a trial. He'll be sentenced at a later date, likely this summer, after a pre-sentence report is completed.

The maximum sentence for a sexual assault conviction in Canada is 10 years in prison.