Coquitlam RCMP wants possible victims and witnesses to contact them after a local youth sports coach was charged with several counts related to child pornography.
The plea came as 59-year-old Coquitlam resident Randy Downes — who has been involved in youth baseball and hockey across Metro Vancouver for decades — was arrested and charged with four counts of making child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and four counts of voyeurism.
Clik here to view.
Randy Downes in a Coquitlam RCMP mugshot.
He was scheduled to appear in court later Wednesday.
“As part of this request for assistance, we want to encourage parents and caregivers of children who have interacted with Mr. Downes to speak with their children and to contact the police with any questions or concerns,” said Const. Jamie Phillipson, in announcing the charges Wednesday.
The Coquitlam RCMP investigation into Downes’s alleged crimes started on March 31 of this year when its sex crimes unit received information from the B.C. Integrated Child Exploitation Unit.
Phillipson said that on April 27, investigators executed a search warrant on a private residence and seized digital evidence allegedly containing images of children that meet the criteria for voyeurism and child pornography as set out in the Criminal Code.
He said police have “no evidence” suggesting Downes had sexual contact with any of the children.
Phillipson said Downes has been involved in youth sports across Metro Vancouver for more than 30 years, coaching various levels of hockey and baseball since the 1990s, and has worked as a photographer for hockey, baseball and soccer.
Although Downes’s sports team affiliations weren’t released by the RCMP Wednesday, he is listed as president of Coquitlam-Moody Minor Baseball Association, which has teams ranging from preschool to high school.
Downes is also involved with Burnaby Winter Club and the Richmond Minor Hockey Association (RMHA).
Phillipson said in an interview that RCMP will be reaching out to Baseball B.C. and Hockey Canada, to “provide us with a better picture of his involvement in youth sports over the last 30 years.”
Phillipson said he expected Downes would be released later Wednesday, with conditions set by the court.
In a statement released Wednesday, Baseball B.C., B.C. (Minor) Baseball and Coquitlam-Moody Minor Baseball said it would not be commenting on the charges, as the matter is before the courts.
“Coquitlam-Moody Minor Baseball has suspended Randy from all baseball, volunteer and board activity, effective immediately,” the statement said.
“After consulting with the RCMP, we have no information on any individual alleged victims involved with baseball. Should we become aware of any individual potential victims, we will try to assist them in accessing all appropriate resources.”
The statement said they require criminal record checks of all coaches, and that Downes “has complied with this requirement.”
The statement concluded by saying that they “place a high priority on all aspects of safety when young people participate in sports.”
On RMHA’s website, Downes is listed as head coach, Atom 1, with 40 years’ coaching experience.
“Randy comes to us from Burnaby Winter Club,” the RMHA states. “Most recently he coached their Atom A1 team. For the past five years, his Atom A1 team won both the league and the playoff banners. Randy has coached since 1974.”
Anyone with information can contact investigators by emailing them at coquitlam_sex_crimes@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or by calling Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quoting police file number 2016-9938.
If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
