A former Canadian Armed Forces reservist’s trial involving youth sexual assault and child exploitation charges concluded in a Yellowknife courtroom on Friday, as the accused altered his plea for two of the nine charges. Craig Scott Routery, aged 62, admitted guilt to charges related to accessing explicit images of a youth and encouraging the distribution of child sexual abuse material. This decision was influenced by text message evidence presented by the Crown showing communication between Routery and the youth.
Evidence revealed that Routery possessed intimate images of the youth and actively sought child sexual abuse material from them. Routery, residing in Yellowknife since 2012, served as a warrant officer with the 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group at the time of his arrest. Initially pleading not guilty to all charges, including sexual assault and child luring, he was taken into custody on July 8, 2024, during a youth training session in Whitehorse following an investigation by the RCMP’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit regarding online communications and alleged sexual contact with a minor in Yellowknife.
While maintaining his innocence on the remaining seven charges, Routery claimed that he believed the youth was of legal age during their interactions and that any expressed interest in children was merely roleplay. The Crown contended that Routery neglected to verify the youth’s age during their online exchanges and during a face-to-face meeting in 2023 outside a Yellowknife school where the alleged sexual contact occurred.
Chief Justice Shannon Smallwood reserved judgment on the outstanding charges, with a verdict expected on December 18.