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An Alberta RCMP officer who was charged with sexually assaulting two teenage boys has pleaded guilty to one count of common assault.
As part of the plea on Tuesday, Const. Bridget Morla admitted to inappropriately touching the two teenagers in an Airdrie, Alta., hotel room in 2022.
The plea was entered before Court of King’s Bench Justice Nick Devlin after negotiations between prosecutor Sandra Christensen-Moore and defence lawyer John Benkendorf.
Christensen-Moore told the judge the plan is for the Crown and defence to present a joint position on sentencing for a discharge of some sort.
That means Morla has been found guilty but will not have a criminal conviction on her record.
It is unclear whether the parties will seek an absolute or conditional discharge.
An absolute discharge means Morla would walk away with no consequences. A conditional discharge would involve some court-ordered conditions for a set period of time.
The sentencing hearing will take place in September, giving the defence time to gather “quite positive” RCMP performance assessments.
Morla touched 2 teen boys
Details of the crime come from an agreed statement of facts read aloud by Christensen-Moore.
Court heard that on Dec. 3, 2022, Morla was at a youth hockey tournament in Airdrie.
She was off duty at the time.
That evening, a group of parents, players and other chaperones were socializing and drinking in a hotel room together.
Victim expressed ‘surprise and discomfort’
Morla admitted to touching the shoulders and thighs of a 16-year-old. She also admitted to accidentally touching his groin area.
The teenage boy “immediately expressed surprise and discomfort.”
Upon learning another teen in the hotel room was 17 years old, Morla commented that “he was legal,” and then tickled his upper body and placed her fingers inside his waistband.
After the September sentencing hearing, Morla will be subject to an internal RCMP conduct hearing.
At the time charges were announced, Morla was suspended with pay.
On Tuesday afternoon, the RCMP confirmed she is currently suspended without pay.
