Oshawa man faces sex assault charges
May 21, 2008 - 02:01
By Jeff Mitchell
OSHAWA -- Several charges have been laid against a man accused of molesting and photographing young children in the washroom of an east Oshawa church over the past year.
The 33-year-old man is alleged to have touched the victims, a three-year-old girl and a boy aged five, and taken photographs of them at Trinity Pentecostal Church at 900 King St. E., Durham police said. A suspect was arrested May 15 by sexual assault unit officers.
Detective Laurie Rushbrook said that while the investigation is ongoing, police don't believe there are more victims.
"I'm fairly confident it's isolated," she said. "But there's still a lot of work to be done on this file. There's still some unanswered questions."
The accused man was known to attend Trinity Pentecostal on occasion but was not considered a member of the congregation and held no position of authority within the church, Det. Rushbrook said.
Police are being sparing with details -- indicating only that the assaults occurred over the past year -- due to the young age of the alleged victims, she said. It's alleged the man touched the children inappropriately and also took pictures of them in various stages of undress. There's no evidence the photos were shared or published, Det. Rushbrook said.
It's believed the children knew the suspect, she added.
A person who answered the phone at the Trinity Pentecostal Church Wednesday would not comment on the allegations.
Shane Knarr, 33, of Blackthorn Street in Oshawa is charged with two counts each of sexual assault, sexual interference and voyeurism. He's also charged with a single count of making child pornography.
Mr. Knarr appeared in court May 16 and was released on bail with his parents and brother acting as surety, police said. He's been ordered to live at the Blackthorn Street address under strict bail conditions.
He's scheduled to appear in court next June 2.
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