A third alleged victim of sexual touching by a popular youth sports coach in Chilliwack is speaking out, calling for other victims to come forward.
Codie Hindle – who is listed as Codie Anderson in court documents – is charged with one count of sexual interference of a minor from his time working with you kids back in 2010.
Hindle also coached basketball with the Chilliwack Sports Academy as well as at elementary and middle schools.
After the charge against the 35-year-old Hindle was laid a month ago, Chilliwack RCMP said there may be other victims, and encouraged parents to talk to their “children about any contact they may have had with Mr. Hindle.”
The alleged victim of the 2010 incident spoke to The Progress in February, after which the mother of another alleged victim came forward to say Hindle was charged at the time, but those charges were dropped.
Now the mother of yet a third alleged victim from the time is speaking out. The woman, who cannot be named, said back in 2010 and 2011 her son also attended the Friday night Overdrive held at the Cheam Centre.
“My son came to me and stated that he no longer wanted to attend, I simply asked why and he stated ‘because I’m sick of him touching me.’ Not just once but several times.”
She called police, and said the officers that attended her house that evening were “fantastic and caring,” and the case was turned over to investigators.
“Initially I felt hopeful and thought that justice would be served,” she said. But then things changed.
“[Hindle] was a very well respected in the community and the thought of this being an accurate accusation just didn’t seem possible to even the police.”
She said she overheard people in the community saying things such as “I heard it’s just a crazy lady making stupid accusations” and “Codie is a great guy.”
The investigation continued, and she was told there was another boy making similar allegations.
• READ MORE: Former Chilliwack sports coach charged with sexually assaulting youth
• READ MORE: Alleged victim of sexual interference by Chilliwack youth coach speaks out
When the mother of that boy spoke to The Progress, she similarly said the case came down to believing the word of 11-year-olds over a well-respected community member.
“I can only imagine how many victims are out there,” she said.
The mother of the latest victim to speak said charges were laid for the alleged touching of the two boys, and a trial was set. But two weeks before the trial she was asked to meet with Crown and the RCMP investigator.
“I was advised that they would not be proceeding as they felt it was his word against my sons,” she said. “At the end of the day, they let our kids down. I believe that there have been others victimized by the person who so many respected. This is my final word to those who make statements such as ‘no way,’ ‘impossible,’ ‘they are lying.” These kids did not lie. They were victims of a predator.”
The victim of the charge that is going ahead now, also spoke to the newspaper urging others to come forward.
In early 2016, aged 17, he went to police with the story of what he says happened to him in May 2010 when he was just 11.
“My opinion is there are more people,” the now 19-year-old said. “Someone like that just doesn’t stop randomly.”
As for Hindle, he works as an events co-ordinator and coach at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. When asked if he was still employed or on leave, a spokesperson declined to to respond citing “privacy laws.”
In an unrelated and very different story, however, an instructor at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) allegedly caught by Creep Catchers going to meet a 13-year-old boy for sex was put on administrative leave by the school right away. That information was shared via email with all staff and students at UFV.
• READ MORE: UFV instructor allegedly caught in Chilliwack Creep Catchers sting
A month ago, Hindle’s LinkedIn profile still listed him as working at Kwantlen. As of March 14 that LinkedIn profile was down, but was still listed as employed and his contact information was still up on the Kwantlen website.
Hindle was due in court on April 10 and the case is now scheduled for a two-day preliminary inquiry Oct. 4 and 5.
Anyone with information or who believes they know someone who may have been a victim is asked to contact the Chilliwack RCMP and quote file number 2016-6735. Anyone who is a victim and does not reside in the Chilliwack area is asked to report to police in that community.
@PeeJayAitchpaul.henderson@theprogress.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
