Ex-President of Canadian LGBTQ+ Pride Organization Faces Charges for Child Sexual Exploitation and Possession, Distribution of Child Abuse Material
Sean Edward Leonard Gravells, 39, the ex-president of the North Peace Pride Society, is now facing multiple sex crime charges, including child pornography offenses.
The B.C. Prosecution Service spokesperson Dan McLaughlin confirmed the charges to Black Press Media on Tuesday.
Gravells is accused of “touching a person under 16 for sexual purposes, sexual interference of a person under 16, possession of child pornography, and importing or distributing child pornography,” according to CBC.
These incidents reportedly occurred in the vicinity of Fort St. John, a community located in northeastern British Columbia.
Gravells made his initial court appearance on January 1, 2024, with a subsequent arraignment hearing scheduled for January 29. Details of the case remain scarce as a publication ban is currently in place in Canada due to Trudeau’s law, limiting the information that can be disseminated to the public.
The North Peace Pride Society, where Gravells served as president since March 2018, issued a statement.
“On December 31, 2023, one of our board members was arrested and is facing severe charges inconsistent with the North Peace Pride Society’s mission and code of conduct. In response to the gravity of the charges, we have immediately removed this person from our board, emphasizing our commitment to our community’s values.
Due to the sensitivity of the situation and privacy considerations, we delayed our statement. However, we took swift actions, voting to remove this individual on January 3, 2024, and have advised our community partners regarding the next steps.