Church volunteer faces sex charges

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A former youth program volunteer at Bethany community church in St. Catharines is facing a slew of additional sex offence charges involving young people. Christopher Witte appeared in St. Catharines court today for a bail hearing. All 30 charges are related to 6 victims who were as young as 11 at the time of the alleged offences.

Police say the sex offence charges against 31 year old Christopher Witte are related to incidents between 2002 and 2009 when Witte was a youth volunteer at Bethany community church. Charges include sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and exploitation.

When the first set of charges was announced in August board chair Liz Froese told the congregation she was shocked. “During these difficult days we have had questions and we reach out for answers.”

Witte grew up at Bethany community church and he has a young family. He had worked in the IT department at the YMCA’s office in downtown St. Catharines, he didn’t work directly with children.

The church says after the police investigation is completed they will be doing their own review.