Surrey RCMP are confirming there is a Vancouver Island connection to a Cloverdale Church Pastor facing charges of sexual assault on a minor. 34 year old Samuel Emerson of the Cloverdale Christian Fellowship Church and his wife Madelaine, 37, are both facing charges in connection with alleged incidents on the lowermainland.
But Surrey Cpl. Scotty Schumann says some of the charges are connected to a summer camp the church runs at Lake Cowichan:
"Investigators are saying that one of the offences have in fact occurred in the Cowichan Bay jurisdiction. It's 1 count of sexual assault, and one count of being in a position of authority and touching a person for a sexual purpose are alleged to have occurred during a camping trip in which Samuel Emerson was present."
Samuel Emerson has been charged with 13 counts of sexual assault, 11 counts of being in a position of authority and touching a person for a sexual purpose, and one count of sexual touching of a person younger than 16.
Madelaine Emerson faces 3 charges: one of sexual assault, one of being in a position of authority and touching a person for a sexual purpose, and one of uttering death threats.
The couple was not known to police. They are not in custody, but are under strict, court-imposed conditions.