75-year-old ex-swimming instructor faces 66 sex-related charges

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - A former swimming instructor at a youth penitentiary in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia faces 66 sex-related charges, police said in a news release Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the alleged sex crimes were committed against 30 youths between the ages of 12 and 18.

“Sexual assault is a devastating crime with traumatic, long-lasting effects on survivors,” RCMP Constable Shari Pictou, the primary investigator, said in the news release. “It takes courage for survivors, particularly youth, and even more so for those who are vulnerable, to come forward and speak with us about what they endured.”

“Because of the courage and patience of those who’ve come forward, who were all youth at the time of the offences, we’re now able to lay charges.”

The alleged sex crimes took place between 1988 and 2017 at the Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville. The victims consist of 29 boys and one girl.

The accused faces a total of 66 charges, including three counts of sexual assault causing bodily harm, 28 charges of sexual assault, 32 charges of sexual exploitation and charges of sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and assault, according to the news release.

Donald Douglas Williams, 75, was arrested at his home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on Saturday following a four-year investigation.

RCMP Staff Sargeant Rob McCamon said he believes there are more victims.

“We believe there are more survivors and people in the community who know about the abuse that occurred at the youth center,” McCamon said in the news release. He urged them to come forward.

The defendant will appear in court on Sept. 26.