Sean Gravells, the former president of a B.C. pride society, is facing sexual exploitation and child pornography charges, according to the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS). The incidents occurred last month near Fort St. John, a small city roughly 800 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, BCPS spokesperson Daniel McLaughlin said.
Mr. Gravells is being charged with sexual interference and sexual exploitation in connection with events on Dec. 29, 2023, as well as possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography charges in relation to a New Year’s Eve incident. BCPS stated that they had no further comment because the matter is before the courts, and the North Peace Pride Society (NPPS), where Mr. Gravells held a board position, stated it acted quickly to vote him out following the charges.
The society clarified that it is not implicated in any charges, which are isolated to the individual. NPPS also noted that Mr. Gravells did not work directly with youth as part of his activities with the group, and all members who work with youth undergo criminal record checks, with the requirement now expanding to include all board members.
B.C. RCMP said there has been an increase in reports of online child exploitation in recent years. Statistics released by police show there were 4,600 reports of exploitation received in 2021, rising to 9,600 in 2022. Meanwhile, an on-call teacher in the Yukon was charged with possession of child pornography, prompting the Department of Education to reach out to affected school communities and ensure that support is in place for anyone who needs it.